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Bryushkova EA, Mushenkova NV, Turchaninova MA, Lukyanov DK, Chudakov DM, Serebrovskaya EO. B cell clonality in cancer. Semin Immunol 2024; 72:101874. [PMID: 38508089 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2024.101874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Carcinogenesis in the process of long-term co-evolution of tumor cells and immune environment essentially becomes possible due to incorrect decisions made, remembered, and reproduced by the immune system at the level of clonal populations of antigen-specific T- and B-lymphocytes. Tumor-immunity interaction determines the nature of such errors and, consequently, delineates the possible ways of successful immunotherapeutic intervention. It is generally recognized that tumor-infiltrating B cells (TIL-B) can play both pro-tumor and anti-tumor roles. However, the exact mechanisms that determine the contribution of clonal B cell lineages with different specificities and functions remain largely unclear. This is due to the variability of cancer types, the molecular heterogeneity of tumor cells, and, to a large extent, the individual pattern of each immune response. Further progress requires detailed investigation of the functional properties and phenotypes of clonally heterogeneous B cells in relation to their antigenic specificities, which determine the functionality of both effector B lymphocytes and immunoglobulins produced in the tumor environment. Based on a real understanding of the role of clonal antigen-specific populations of B lymphocytes in the tumor microenvironment, we need to learn how to develop new methods of targeted immunotherapy, as well as adapt existing treatment options to the specific needs of different patients and patient subgroups. In this review, we will cover B cells functional diversity and their multifaceted roles in the tumor environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A Bryushkova
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, Moscow, Russia; Department of Molecular Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - N V Mushenkova
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Unicorn Capital Partners, Moscow, Russia
| | - M A Turchaninova
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, Moscow, Russia
| | - D K Lukyanov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, Moscow, Russia; Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - D M Chudakov
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, Moscow, Russia; Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia; Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - E O Serebrovskaya
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, Moscow, Russia; Current position: Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
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2
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Soussan S, Pupier G, Cremer I, Joubert PE, Sautès-Fridman C, Fridman W, Sibéril S. Unraveling the complex interplay between anti-tumor immune response and autoimmunity mediated by B cells and autoantibodies in the era of anti-checkpoint monoclonal antibody therapies. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1343020. [PMID: 38318190 PMCID: PMC10838986 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1343020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The intricate relationship between anti-tumor immunity and autoimmunity is a complex yet crucial aspect of cancer biology. Tumor microenvironment often exhibits autoimmune features, a phenomenon that involves natural autoimmunity and the induction of humoral responses against self-antigens during tumorigenesis. This induction is facilitated by the orchestration of anti-tumor immunity, particularly within organized structures like tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS). Paradoxically, a significant number of cancer patients do not manifest autoimmune features during the course of their illness, with rare instances of paraneoplastic syndromes. This discrepancy can be attributed to various immune-mediated locks, including regulatory or suppressive immune cells, anergic autoreactive lymphocytes, or induction of effector cells exhaustion due to chronic stimulation. Overcoming these locks holds the risk to induce autoimmune mechanisms during cancer progression, a phenomenon notably observed with anti-immune checkpoint therapies, in contrast to more conventional treatments like chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Therefore, the challenge arises in managing immune-related adverse events (irAEs) induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors treatment, as decoupling them from the anti-tumor activity poses a significant clinical dilemma. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the link between B-cell driven anti-tumor responses and autoimmune reactions in cancer patients, and discusses the clinical implications of this relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Sophie Sibéril
- Centre de recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM U1138, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
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Routh ED, Woodcock MG, Beckabir W, Vensko SP, Serody JS, Vincent BG. Evaluation of tumor antigen-specific antibody responses in patients with metastatic triple negative breast cancer treated with cyclophosphamide and pembrolizumab. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:jitc-2022-005848. [PMID: 36882226 PMCID: PMC10008414 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of B cells in antitumor immunity is becoming increasingly appreciated, as B cell populations have been associated with response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) in patients with breast cancer and murine models of breast cancer. Deeper understanding of antibody responses to tumor antigens is needed to clarify the function of B cells in determining response to immunotherapy. We evaluated tumor antigen-specific antibody responses in patients with metastatic triple negative breast cancer treated with pembrolizumab following low-dose cyclophosphamide therapy using computational linear epitope prediction and custom peptide microarrays. We found that a minority of predicted linear epitopes were associated with antibody signal, and signal was associated with both neoepitopes and self-peptides. No association was observed between signal presence and subcellular localization or RNA expression of parent proteins. Patient-specific patterns of antibody signal boostability were observed that were independent of clinical response. Intriguingly, measures of cumulative antibody signal intensity relative to immunotherapy treatment showed that the one complete responder in the trial had the greatest increase in total antibody signal, which supports a potential association between ICB-dependent antibody boosting and clinical response. The antibody boost in the complete responder was largely driven by increased levels of IgG specific to a sequence of N-terminal residues in native Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Pathway Substrate 8 (EPS8) protein, a known oncogene in several cancer types including breast cancer. Structural protein prediction showed that the targeted epitope of EPS8 was in a region of the protein with mixed linear/helical structure, and that this region was solvent-exposed and not predicted to bind to interacting macromolecules. This study highlights the potential importance of the humoral immune response targeting neoepitopes as well as self epitopes in shaping clinical response to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric D Routh
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Mark G Woodcock
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Division of Medical Oncology, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Wolfgang Beckabir
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Steven P Vensko
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jonathan S Serody
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Benjamin G Vincent
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA .,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Computational Medicine Program, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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4
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Borchmann S, Selenz C, Lohmann M, Ludwig H, Gassa A, Brägelmann J, Lohneis P, Meder L, Mattlener J, Breid S, Nill M, Fassunke J, Wisdom AJ, Compes A, Gathof B, Alakus H, Kirsch D, Hekmat K, Büttner R, Reinhardt HC, Hallek M, Ullrich RT. Tripartite antigen-agnostic combination immunotherapy cures established poorly immunogenic tumors. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:e004781. [PMID: 36223955 PMCID: PMC9562723 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-004781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Single-agent immunotherapy has shown remarkable efficacy in selected cancer entities and individual patients. However, most patients fail to respond. This is likely due to diverse immunosuppressive mechanisms acting in a concerted way to suppress the host anti-tumor immune response. Combination immunotherapy approaches that are effective in such poorly immunogenic tumors mostly rely on precise knowledge of antigenic determinants on tumor cells. Creating an antigen-agnostic combination immunotherapy that is effective in poorly immunogenic tumors for which an antigenic determinant is not known is a major challenge. METHODS We use multiple cell line and poorly immunogenic syngeneic, autochthonous, and autologous mouse models to evaluate the efficacy of a novel combination immunotherapy named tripartite immunotherapy (TRI-IT). To elucidate TRI-ITs mechanism of action we use immune cell depletions and comprehensive tumor and immune infiltrate characterization by flow cytometry, RNA sequencing and diverse functional assays. RESULTS We show that combined adoptive cellular therapy (ACT) with lymphokine-activated killer cells, cytokine-induced killer cells, Vγ9Vδ2-T-cells (γδ-T-cells) and T-cells enriched for tumor recognition (CTLs) display synergistic antitumor effects, which are further enhanced by cotreatment with anti-PD1 antibodies. Most strikingly, the full TRI-IT protocol, a combination of this ACT with anti-PD1 antibodies, local immunotherapy of agonists against toll-like receptor 3, 7 and 9 and pre-ACT lymphodepletion, eradicates and induces durable anti-tumor immunity in a variety of poorly immunogenic syngeneic, autochthonous, as well as autologous humanized patient-derived models. Mechanistically, we show that TRI-IT coactivates adaptive cellular and humoral, as well as innate antitumor immune responses to mediate its antitumor effect without inducing off-target toxicity. CONCLUSIONS Overall, TRI-IT is a novel, highly effective, antigen-agnostic, non-toxic combination immunotherapy. In this study, comprehensive insights into its preclinical efficacy, even in poorly immunogenic tumors, and mode of action are given, so that translation into clinical trials is the next step.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Borchmann
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Carolin Selenz
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Mia Lohmann
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Hanna Ludwig
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Asmae Gassa
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Johannes Brägelmann
- Mildred Scheel School of Oncology, University Hospital Cologne, Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany
| | - Philipp Lohneis
- Institute of Pathology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Lydia Meder
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Julia Mattlener
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Sara Breid
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Marieke Nill
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jana Fassunke
- Institute of Pathology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Amy J Wisdom
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Anik Compes
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Birgit Gathof
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Hakan Alakus
- Department of General, Visceral and Cancer Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - David Kirsch
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Khosro Hekmat
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | | | - H Christian Reinhardt
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital Essen,University Duisburg-Essen, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK partner site Essen), Essen, Germany
| | - Michael Hallek
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Roland T Ullrich
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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5
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HER2-Displaying M13 Bacteriophages induce Therapeutic Immunity against Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14164054. [PMID: 36011047 PMCID: PMC9406369 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14164054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The high incidence and death rates of breast cancer make the development of new therapies an urgent need. The introduction into the clinic of the anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody trastuzumab considerably improved the overall survival and time-to-disease progression of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. However, many patients do not benefit from it because of resistance to therapy. Cancer vaccines, by inducing into the patient an anti-cancer specific immunity, might represent an alternative immunotherapeutic approach, but despite promises, so far no anti-HER2 cancer vaccine has been approved for human use. In this study, we propose therapeutic phage-based vaccines, against HER2 and its aggressive isoform Δ16HER2, able to elicit a protective immunity and potentially capable of preventing relapse in HER2-positive breast cancer patients, even in those who develop trastuzumab resistance. Abstract The advent of trastuzumab has significantly improved the prognosis of HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer patients; nevertheless, drug resistance limits its clinical benefit. Anti-HER2 active immunotherapy represents an attractive alternative strategy, but effective immunization needs to overcome the patient’s immune tolerance against the self-HER2. Phage display technology, taking advantage of phage intrinsic immunogenicity, permits one to generate effective cancer vaccines able to break immune tolerance to self-antigens. In this study, we demonstrate that both preventive and therapeutic vaccination with M13 bacteriophages, displaying the extracellular (EC) and transmembrane (TM) domains of human HER2 or its Δ16HER2 splice variant on their surface (ECTM and Δ16ECTM phages), delayed mammary tumor onset and reduced tumor growth rate and multiplicity in ∆16HER2 transgenic mice, which are tolerant to human ∆16HER2. This antitumor protection correlated with anti-HER2 antibody production. The molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effect of vaccine-elicited anti-HER2 antibodies were analyzed in vitro against BT-474 human breast cancer cells, sensitive or resistant to trastuzumab. Immunoglobulins (IgG) purified from immune sera reduced cell viability mainly by impairing ERK phosphorylation and reactivating retinoblastoma protein function in both trastuzumab-sensitive and -resistant BT-474 cells. In conclusion, we demonstrated that phage-based HER2 vaccines impair mammary cancer onset and progression, opening new perspectives for HER2+ breast cancer treatment.
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Soni M, Saatci O, Gupta G, Patel Y, Keerthi Raja MR, Li J, Liu X, Xu P, Wang H, Fan D, Sahin O, Chen H. miR-489 Confines Uncontrolled Estrogen Signaling through a Negative Feedback Mechanism and Regulates Tamoxifen Resistance in Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158086. [PMID: 35897675 PMCID: PMC9331933 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately 75% of diagnosed breast cancer tumors are estrogen-receptor-positive tumors and are associated with a better prognosis due to response to hormonal therapies. However, around 40% of patients relapse after hormonal therapies. Genomic analysis of gene expression profiles in primary breast cancers and tamoxifen-resistant cell lines suggested the potential role of miR-489 in the regulation of estrogen signaling and development of tamoxifen resistance. Our in vitro analysis showed that loss of miR-489 expression promoted tamoxifen resistance, while overexpression of miR-489 in tamoxifen-resistant cells restored tamoxifen sensitivity. Mechanistically, we found that miR-489 is an estrogen-regulated miRNA that negatively regulates estrogen receptor signaling by using at least the following two mechanisms: (i) modulation of the ER phosphorylation status by inhibiting MAPK and AKT kinase activities; (ii) regulation of nuclear-to-cytosol translocation of estrogen receptor α (ERα) by decreasing p38 expression and consequently ER phosphorylation. In addition, miR-489 can break the positive feed-forward loop between the estrogen-Erα axis and p38 MAPK in breast cancer cells, which is necessary for its function as a transcription factor. Overall, our study unveiled the underlying molecular mechanism by which miR-489 regulates an estrogen signaling pathway through a negative feedback loop and uncovered its role in both the development of and overcoming of tamoxifen resistance in breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mithil Soni
- Department of Biological Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; (M.S.); (G.G.); (Y.P.); (M.R.K.R.)
| | - Ozge Saatci
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, South Carolina College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; (O.S.); (P.X.); (O.S.)
| | - Gourab Gupta
- Department of Biological Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; (M.S.); (G.G.); (Y.P.); (M.R.K.R.)
| | - Yogin Patel
- Department of Biological Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; (M.S.); (G.G.); (Y.P.); (M.R.K.R.)
| | - Manikanda Raja Keerthi Raja
- Department of Biological Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; (M.S.); (G.G.); (Y.P.); (M.R.K.R.)
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29201, USA;
| | - Xinfeng Liu
- Department of Mathematics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29201, USA;
| | - Peisheng Xu
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, South Carolina College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; (O.S.); (P.X.); (O.S.)
| | - Hongjun Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA;
| | - Daping Fan
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29209, USA;
| | - Ozgur Sahin
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, South Carolina College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; (O.S.); (P.X.); (O.S.)
| | - Hexin Chen
- Department of Biological Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; (M.S.); (G.G.); (Y.P.); (M.R.K.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-803-777-2928; Fax: +1-803-777-4002
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7
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Sarmento-Ribeiro AB, Scorilas A, Gonçalves AC, Efferth T, Trougakos IP. The emergence of drug resistance to targeted cancer therapies: Clinical evidence. Drug Resist Updat 2019; 47:100646. [PMID: 31733611 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2019.100646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
For many decades classical anti-tumor therapies included chemotherapy, radiation and surgery; however, in the last two decades, following the identification of the genomic drivers and main hallmarks of cancer, the introduction of therapies that target specific tumor-promoting oncogenic or non-oncogenic pathways, has revolutionized cancer therapeutics. Despite the significant progress in cancer therapy, clinical oncologists are often facing the primary impediment of anticancer drug resistance, as many cancer patients display either intrinsic chemoresistance from the very beginning of the therapy or after initial responses and upon repeated drug treatment cycles, acquired drug resistance develops and thus relapse emerges, resulting in increased mortality. Our attempts to understand the molecular basis underlying these drug resistance phenotypes in pre-clinical models and patient specimens revealed the extreme plasticity and adaptive pathways employed by tumor cells, being under sustained stress and extensive genomic/proteomic instability due to the applied therapeutic regimens. Subsequent efforts have yielded more effective inhibitors and combinatorial approaches (e.g. the use of specific pharmacologic inhibitors with immunotherapy) that exhibit synergistic effects against tumor cells, hence enhancing therapeutic indices. Furthermore, new advanced methodologies that allow for the early detection of genetic/epigenetic alterations that lead to drug chemoresistance and prospective validation of biomarkers which identify patients that will benefit from certain drug classes, have started to improve the clinical outcome. This review discusses emerging principles of drug resistance to cancer therapies targeting a wide array of oncogenic kinases, along with hedgehog pathway and the proteasome and apoptotic inducers, as well as epigenetic and metabolic modulators. We further discuss mechanisms of resistance to monoclonal antibodies, immunomodulators and immune checkpoint inhibitors, potential biomarkers of drug response/drug resistance, along with possible new therapeutic avenues for the clinicians to combat devastating drug resistant malignancies. It is foreseen that these topics will be major areas of focused multidisciplinary translational research in the years to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Bela Sarmento-Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Oncobiology and Hematology and University Clinic of Hematology and Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research - Group of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (iCBR/CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Coimbra, Portugal; Hematology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Andreas Scorilas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ana Cristina Gonçalves
- Laboratory of Oncobiology and Hematology and University Clinic of Hematology and Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research - Group of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (iCBR/CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Thomas Efferth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Ioannis P Trougakos
- Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
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Abstract
Anticancer immunotherapies involving the use of immune-checkpoint inhibitors or adoptive cellular transfer have emerged as new therapeutic pillars within oncology. These treatments function by overcoming or relieving tumour-induced immunosuppression, thereby enabling immune-mediated tumour clearance. While often more effective and better tolerated than traditional and targeted therapies, many patients have innate or acquired resistance to immunotherapies. Cancer immunoediting is the process whereby the immune system can both constrain and promote tumour development, which proceeds through three phases termed elimination, equilibrium and escape. Throughout these phases, tumour immunogenicity is edited, and immunosuppressive mechanisms that enable disease progression are acquired. The mechanisms of resistance to immunotherapy seem to broadly overlap with those used by cancers as they undergo immunoediting to evade detection by the immune system. In this Review, we discuss how a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying the cancer immunoediting process can provide insight into the development of resistance to immunotherapies and the strategies that can be used to overcome such resistance.
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9
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Khayeka-Wandabwa C, Ma X, Cao X, Nunna V, Pathak JL, Bernhardt R, Cai P, Bureik M. Plasma membrane localization of CYP4Z1 and CYP19A1 and the detection of anti-CYP19A1 autoantibodies in humans. Int Immunopharmacol 2019; 73:64-71. [PMID: 31082724 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2019.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2019] [Revised: 04/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
It is thought that autoantibody (aAb) production can be caused by (aberrant) protein targeting to the plasma surface of cells. We recently demonstrated the presence of the human cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP4Z1 on the plasma membrane of MCF-7 breast cancer cells and the detection of high titers of anti-CYP4Z1 aAbs in breast cancer patients, but not in healthy controls. In the present study we show that cells of the normal breast cell line MCF-10A do not display CYP4Z1 on their surface. By contrast, we detected CYP19A1 (aromatase) on the plasma membrane of both cell lines. Interestingly, the presence of CYPs on the cell surface did not correlate with their relative expression levels in these cell lines. Indirect ELISA experiments demonstrated the presence of anti-CYP19A1 aAbs in female breast cancer patient sera as well as in male and female controls, respectively; aAb titers in all three groups varied considerably and overall, the results obtained for each group were not significantly different from those of either of the other two groups. Based on these data we propose the hypothesis that CYP translocation to the plasma membrane, but not the intracellular expression level, is the crucial precondition for the generation of anti-CYP aAbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Khayeka-Wandabwa
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (SPST), Health Science Platform, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaoshuang Ma
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (SPST), Health Science Platform, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaolin Cao
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (SPST), Health Science Platform, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Venkatrao Nunna
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (SPST), Health Science Platform, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Janak L Pathak
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (SPST), Health Science Platform, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Rita Bernhardt
- Institute of Biochemistry, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
| | - Pengcheng Cai
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Matthias Bureik
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (SPST), Health Science Platform, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.
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Osada T, Hartman ZC, Wei J, Lei G, Hobeika AC, Gwin WR, Diniz MA, Spector N, Clay TM, Chen W, Morse MA, Lyerly HK. Polyfunctional anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (anti-HER3) antibodies induced by HER3 vaccines have multiple mechanisms of antitumor activity against therapy resistant and triple negative breast cancers. Breast Cancer Res 2018; 20:90. [PMID: 30092835 PMCID: PMC6085609 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-018-1023-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Upregulation of human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) is a major mechanism of acquired resistance to therapies targeting its heterodimerization partners epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), but also exposes HER3 as a target for immune attack. We generated an adenovirus encoding full length human HER3 (Ad-HER3) to serve as a cancer vaccine. Previously we reported the anti-tumor efficacy and function of the T cell response to this vaccine. We now provide a detailed assessment of the antitumor efficacy and functional mechanisms of the HER3 vaccine-induced antibodies (HER3-VIAs) in serum from mice immunized with Ad-HER3. METHODS Serum containing HER3-VIA was tested in complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) assays and for its effect on HER3 internalization and degradation, downstream signaling of HER3 heterodimers and growth of metastatic HER2+ (BT474M1), HER2 therapy-resistant (rBT474), and triple negative (MDA-MB-468) breast cancers. RESULTS HER3-VIAs mediated CDC and ADCC, HER3 internalization, interruption of HER3 heterodimer-driven tumor signaling pathways, and anti-proliferative effects against HER2+ tumor cells in vitro and significant antitumor effects against metastatic HER2+ BT474M1, treatment refractory HER2+ rBT474 and triple negative MDA-MB-468 in vivo. CONCLUSIONS In addition to the T cell anti-tumor response induced by Ad-HER3, the HER3-VIAs provide additional functions to eliminate tumors in which HER3 signaling mediates aggressive behavior or acquired resistance to HER2-targeted therapy. These data support clinical studies of vaccination against HER3 prior to or concomitantly with other therapies to prevent outgrowth of therapy-resistant HER2+ and triple negative clones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuya Osada
- Division of Surgical Sciences, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, MSRB Research Drive, Box 2714, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Zachary C Hartman
- Division of Surgical Sciences, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, MSRB Research Drive, Box 2714, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Junping Wei
- Division of Surgical Sciences, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, MSRB Research Drive, Box 2714, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Gangjun Lei
- Division of Surgical Sciences, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, MSRB Research Drive, Box 2714, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Amy C Hobeika
- Division of Surgical Sciences, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, MSRB Research Drive, Box 2714, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - William R Gwin
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Marcio A Diniz
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Research Center, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Neil Spector
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Timothy M Clay
- Cell and Gene Therapy Discovery Research, PTS, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, PA, USA
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Wei Chen
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Michael A Morse
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - H Kim Lyerly
- Division of Surgical Sciences, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, MSRB Research Drive, Box 2714, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
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11
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Stadler S, Singh VK, Knörr F, Damm-Welk C, Woessmann W. Immune Response against ALK in Children with ALK-Positive Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma. Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:cancers10040114. [PMID: 29642597 PMCID: PMC5923369 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10040114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) mount a humoral and cellular immune response against ALK. More than 90% of children and adolescents with ALK-positive ALCL have detectable anti-ALK antibodies in serum or plasma, and the antibody titer inversely correlates with the risk of relapse. ALK-specific CD8 and CD4 T cell responses have been described in patients with ALK-positive ALCL. Vaccination with ALK DNA led to protection against lymphoma growth in a murine model. Collectively, these data suggest that the ALK-specific immune response is involved in the control of the disease. The characteristics of the humoral and cellular immune response against ALK as well as tumor immune escape mechanisms have been increasingly investigated. However, tumor and host factors contributing to the individual immune response against ALK are still largely unknown. Depending on the individual strength of the immune response and its determinants, individualized immunological approaches might be appropriate for the consolidation of ALCL patients. Strategies such as ALK vaccination could be effective for those with a pre-existing anti-tumor immunity, while an allogeneic blood stem cell transplantation or check-point inhibition could be effective for others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Stadler
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Justus-Liebig University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Vijay Kumar Singh
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Justus-Liebig University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Fabian Knörr
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Justus-Liebig University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Christine Damm-Welk
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Justus-Liebig University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Wilhelm Woessmann
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Justus-Liebig University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
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12
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Disis ML, Stanton SE. Immunotherapy in breast cancer: An introduction. Breast 2018; 37:196-199. [PMID: 28162837 DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2017.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The field of breast cancer immunology has progressed tremendously over the last decade. Twenty years ago immunotherapy was not considered for the treatment of breast cancers because breast cancer was not considered immunogenic. Today we know that most patients with breast cancer have some evidence of an adaptive immune response against their tumors, detectable either in the peripheral blood or in the tumor. Moreover, immunity to breast cancer begins at the earliest stages of the disease, in some patients prior to diagnosis. Recent evidence suggests that lymphocytes infiltrating breast cancers and found in the tumor stroma are strong prognostic indicators of a beneficial disease outcome. These observations now pave the way for the integration of immunomodulation into standard of care therapy for the treatment of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary L Disis
- Tumor Vaccine Group, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
| | - Sasha E Stanton
- Tumor Vaccine Group, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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13
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The roles and applications of autoantibodies in progression, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of human malignant tumours. Autoimmun Rev 2017; 16:1270-1281. [PMID: 29042252 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2017.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The existence of autoantibodies towards an individual's own proteins or nucleic acids has been established for more than 100years, and for a long period, these autoantibodies have been believed to be closely associated with autoimmune diseases. However, in recent years, researchers have become more interested in the role and application of autoantibodies in progression, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of human malignant tumours. Over the past few decades, numerous epidemiological studies have shown that the risk of certain cancers is significantly altered (increased or decreased) in patients with autoimmune diseases, which suggests that autoantibodies may play either promoting or suppressing roles in cancer progression. The idea that autoantibodies are directly involved in tumour progression gains special support by the findings that some antibodies secreted by a variety of cancer cells can promote their proliferation and metastasis. Because the cancer cells generate cell antigenic changes (neoantigens), which trigger the immune system to produce autoantibodies, serum autoantibodies against tumour-associated antigens have been established as a novel type of cancer biomarkers and have been extensively studied in different types of cancer. The autoantibodies as biomarkers in cancer diagnosis are not only more sensitive and specific than antigens, but also could appear before clinical evidences of the tumours, thus disclosing them. The observations that cancer risk is lower in patients with some autoimmune diseases suggest that certain autoantibodies may be protective from certain cancers. Moreover, the presence of autoantibodies in healthy individuals implies that it could be safe to employ autoantibodies to treat cancer. Of note, an autoantibodies derived from lupus murine model received much attention due to their selective cytotoxicity for malignant tumour cell without harming normal ones. These studies showed the therapeutic value of autoantibodies in cancer. In this review, we revisited the pathological or protective role of autoantibodies in cancer progression, summarize the application of autoantibodies in cancer diagnosis and prognosis, and discuss the value of autoantibodies in cancer therapy. The studies established to date suggest that autoantibodies not only regulate cancer progression but also promise to be valuable instruments in oncological diagnosis and therapy.
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14
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Gallo S, Sangiolo D, Carnevale Schianca F, Aglietta M, Montemurro F. Treating breast cancer with cell-based approaches: an overview. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2017; 17:1255-1264. [PMID: 28728493 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2017.1356816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women. Despite there being considerable progress in the treatment of this disease, metastatic dissemination is still considered an incurable condition at the present time, causing 500,000 deaths worldwide every year. Although most of the research efforts have been focused on pharmacological approaches, over the last three decades, the use of bone marrow and peripheral blood-derived cell therapy approaches have been attempted and developed. Areas covered: This review will briefly address cell therapy for breast cancer, including autologous stem cell transplantations for overcoming the myelosuppressive effects of high-dose chemotherapy, allogeneic stem cell transplants and adoptive immunotherapy using bone-marrow derived T-cells. Expert opinion: The treatment of breast cancer using bone marrow or peripheral-blood derived cells has evolved from a supportive care approach to allow dose escalation of conventional chemotherapy to a therapeutic strategy aimed at eliciting immune cell mediated anticancer immunity. This latter principle has led to the development of adoptive immunotherapies, either with 'natural' or genetically engineered effectors, which are being intensively investigated for their great potential against several solid tumors, including breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Gallo
- a Medical Oncology , Candiolo Cancer Institute-FPO (IRCCS) , Candiolo , Italy
| | - Dario Sangiolo
- a Medical Oncology , Candiolo Cancer Institute-FPO (IRCCS) , Candiolo , Italy.,b Department of Oncology , University of Turin , Turin , Italy
| | | | - Massimo Aglietta
- a Medical Oncology , Candiolo Cancer Institute-FPO (IRCCS) , Candiolo , Italy.,b Department of Oncology , University of Turin , Turin , Italy
| | - Filippo Montemurro
- c Investigative Clinical Oncology , Candiolo Cancer Institute-FPO (IRCCS) , Candiolo , Italy
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15
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Tsou P, Katayama H, Ostrin EJ, Hanash SM. The Emerging Role of B Cells in Tumor Immunity. Cancer Res 2016; 76:5597-5601. [PMID: 27634765 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-16-0431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 230] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
There is increasing evidence supporting a role for B cells in tumor immunology. Paraneoplastic syndromes occurring before a cancer diagnosis have pointed to the potential for harnessing the humoral immune response for early cancer detection. The presence of tumor-infiltrating B lymphocytes has been linked to a favorable clinical outcome in many types of cancers. However, B cells represent a heterogeneous population with functionally distinct subsets, and the balance among subtypes impacts tumor development. Here, we review recent findings related to B cells and to the humoral immune response in cancer and their translational significance. Cancer Res; 76(19); 5597-601. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiling Tsou
- The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Edwin J Ostrin
- The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Samir M Hanash
- The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
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16
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Saitoh F, Wakatsuki S, Tokunaga S, Fujieda H, Araki T. Glutamate signals through mGluR2 to control Schwann cell differentiation and proliferation. Sci Rep 2016; 6:29856. [PMID: 27432639 PMCID: PMC4949416 DOI: 10.1038/srep29856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid saltatory nerve conduction is facilitated by myelin structure, which is produced by Schwann cells (SC) in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Proper development and degeneration/regeneration after injury requires regulated phenotypic changes of SC. We have previously shown that glutamate can induce SC proliferation in culture. Here we show that glutamate signals through metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2) to induce Erk phosphorylation in SC. mGluR2-elicited Erk phosphorylation requires ErbB2/3 receptor tyrosine kinase phosphorylation to limit the signaling cascade that promotes phosphorylation of Erk, but not Akt. We found that Gβγ and Src are involved in subcellular signaling downstream of mGluR2. We also found that glutamate can transform myelinating SC to proliferating SC, while inhibition of mGluR2 signaling can inhibit demyelination of injured nerves in vivo. These data suggest pathophysiological significance of mGluR2 signaling in PNS and its possible therapeutic importance to combat demyelinating disorders including Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuminori Saitoh
- Department of Peripheral Nervous System Research National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8502, Japan.,Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan
| | - Shuji Wakatsuki
- Department of Peripheral Nervous System Research National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
| | - Shinji Tokunaga
- Department of Peripheral Nervous System Research National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
| | - Hiroki Fujieda
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Araki
- Department of Peripheral Nervous System Research National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
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17
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Protective effect of naturally occurring anti-HER2 autoantibodies on breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2016; 157:55-63. [PMID: 27113738 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-016-3801-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Anti-HER2-autoantibodies (HER2-AAbs) are found in breast cancer patients as well as healthy individuals. However, the clinical relevance of the antibodies is unknown. We established an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with high sensitivity and quantified serum HER2-AAbs in 100 healthy women, 100 untreated patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and 500 untreated patients with invasive breast carcinoma (IBC). The associations between the levels of HER2-AAbs and breast cancer risk, and recurrence-free survival, were examined. High levels of HER2-AAbs were significantly associated with a reduced risk of DCIS (odds ratio [OR] 0.19, P = 4.6 × 10(-7)) or IBC (OR 0.31, P = 3.7 × 10(-7)). Subgroup analysis of IBC revealed a stronger association of HER2-AAbs with a reduced risk of the hormone receptor (HR)(-)/HER2(+) subtype (OR 0.12) than the other subtypes (HR(+)/HER2(-) [OR = 0.32], HR(+)/HER2(+) [OR 0.38], and HR(-)/HER2(-) [OR 0.29]). When we set the cutoff of HER2-AAbs at 20 ng/mL, recurrence-free survival of HER2-AAb-positive patients (N = 74) was significantly better than that of HER2-AAb-negative patients (N = 426) (P = 0.015). Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that HER2-AAbs, as well as histological grade, were independently and significantly (P = 0.0065 and 0.049, respectively) associated with recurrence-free survival. Our exploratory study suggests a protective effect of naturally occurring HER2-AAbs on the development of primary and recurrent breast cancer. Further studies on HER2-AAbs are warranted.
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18
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Garcia-Recio S, Fuster G, Fernandez-Nogueira P, Pastor-Arroyo EM, Park SY, Mayordomo C, Ametller E, Mancino M, Gonzalez-Farre X, Russnes HG, Engel P, Costamagna D, Fernandez PL, Gascón P, Almendro V. Substance P autocrine signaling contributes to persistent HER2 activation that drives malignant progression and drug resistance in breast cancer. Cancer Res 2013; 73:6424-34. [PMID: 24030979 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-12-4573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
ERBB receptor transmodulation by heterologous G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) generates functional diversity in signal transduction. Tachykinins are neuropeptides and proinflammatory cytokines that promote cell survival and cancer progression by activating several GPCRs. In this work, we found that the pain-associated tachykinin Substance P (SP) contributes to persistent transmodulation of the ERBB receptors, EGFR and HER2, in breast cancer, acting to enhance malignancy and therapeutic resistance. SP and its high-affinity receptor NK-1R were highly expressed in HER2(+) primary breast tumors (relative to the luminal and triple-negative subtypes) and were overall correlated with poor prognosis factors. In breast cancer cell lines and primary cultures derived from breast cancer samples, we found that SP could activate HER2. Conversely, RNA interference-mediated attenuation of NK-1R, or its chemical inhibition, or suppression of overall GPCR-mediated signaling, all strongly decreased steady-state expression of EGFR and HER2, establishing that their basal activity relied upon transdirectional activation by GPCR. Thus, SP exposure affected cellular responses to anti-ERBB therapies. Our work reveals an important oncogenic cooperation between NK-1R and HER2, thereby adding a novel link between inflammation and cancer progression that may be targetable by SP antagonists that have been clinically explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Garcia-Recio
- Authors' Affiliations: Department of Medical Oncology and Pathology, Hospital Clínic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer, Department of Medicine, University of Barcelona; Department of Cell Biology, Immunology, and Neurosciences, Medical School, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea; Department of Genetics, Oslo University Hospital Radiumhospitalet, Norway; and Department of Medicine and Experimental Oncology, Torino University, Turin, Italy
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Walsh MT, Connell K, Sheahan AM, Gleich GJ, Costello RW. Eosinophil peroxidase signals via epidermal growth factor-2 to induce cell proliferation. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2011; 45:946-52. [PMID: 21454806 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2010-0454oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Eosinophils exert many of their inflammatory effects in allergic disorders through the degranulation and release of intracellular mediators, including a set of cationic granule proteins that include eosinophil peroxidase. Studies suggest that eosinophils are involved in remodeling. In previous studies, we showed that eosinophil granule proteins activate mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. In this study, we investigated the receptor mediating eosinophil peroxidase-induced signaling and downstream effects. Human cholinergic neuroblastoma IMR32 and murine melanoma B16.F10 cultures, real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunoprecipitations, and Western blotting were used in the study. We showed that eosinophil peroxidase caused a sustained increase in both the expression of epidermal growth factor-2 (HER2) and its phosphorylation at tyrosine 1248, with the consequent activation of extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2. This, in turn, promoted a focal adhesion kinase-dependent egress of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(kip) from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Eosinophil peroxidase induced a HER2-dependent up-regulation of cell proliferation, indicated by an up-regulation of the nuclear proliferation marker Ki67. This study identifies HER2 as a novel mediator of eosinophil peroxidase signaling. The results show that eosinophil peroxidase, at noncytotoxic levels, can drive cell-cycle progression and proliferation, and contribute to tissue remodeling and cell turnover in airway disease. Because eosinophils are a feature of many cancers, these findings also suggest a role for eosinophils in tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Therese Walsh
- Department of Medicine, Education and Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
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Park KH, Gad E, Goodell V, Dang Y, Wild T, Higgins D, Fintak P, Childs J, Dela Rosa C, Disis ML. Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 is a target for the immunomodulation of breast cancer. Cancer Res 2008; 68:8400-9. [PMID: 18922913 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-07-5891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is immunogenic and well suited to treatment via immunomodulation. The disease is often treated to remission and time to relapse is generally measured in years in many cases. Immune-based therapeutics, such as cancer vaccines, may be able to affect the clinical progression of micrometastatic disease. Immune targets must be identified that have the potential to inhibit tumor growth. Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) has direct effects on breast cancer proliferation via stimulation of critical signaling pathways. We questioned whether IGFBP-2 was an immune target in breast cancer. IGFBP-2-specific IgG antibody immunity was preferentially detected in breast cancer patients compared with controls (P = 0.0008). To evaluate for the presence of T-cell immunity, we identified potential pan-HLA-DR binding epitopes derived from IGFBP-2 and tested the peptides for immunogenicity. The majority of epitopes elicited peptide-specific T cells in both patients and controls and had high sequence homology to bacterial pathogens. IGFBP-2 peptide-specific T cells could respond to naturally processed and presented IGFBP-2 protein, indicating that these peptides were native epitopes of IGFBP-2. Finally, both immunization with IGFBP-2 peptides as well as adoptive transfer of IGFBP-2-competent T cells mediated an antitumor effect in a transgenic mouse model of breast cancer. This is the first report of IGFBP-2 as a human tumor antigen that may be a functional therapeutic target in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyong Hwa Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Oncology/Hematology, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
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Whittington PJ, Piechocki MP, Heng HH, Jacob JB, Jones RF, Back JB, Wei WZ. DNA vaccination controls Her-2+ tumors that are refractory to targeted therapies. Cancer Res 2008; 68:7502-11. [PMID: 18794138 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-08-1489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Her-2/neu(+) tumor cells refractory to antibody or receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors are emerging in treated patients. To investigate if drug resistant tumors can be controlled by active vaccination, gefitinib and antibody sensitivity of four neu(+) BALB/c mouse mammary tumor lines were compared. Significant differences in cell proliferation and Akt phosphorylation were observed. Treatment-induced drug resistance was associated with increased chromosomal aberrations as shown by spectral karyotyping analysis, suggesting changes beyond neu signaling pathways. When mice were immunized with pneuTM encoding the extracellular and transmembrane domains of neu, antibody and T-cell responses were induced, and both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant tumor cells were rejected. In T-cell-depleted mice, drug-sensitive tumors were still rejected by vaccination, but drug-refractory tumors survived in some mice, indicating their resistance to anti-neu antibodies. To further test if T cells alone can mediate tumor rejection, mice were immunized with pcytneu encoding full-length cytoplasmic neu that is rapidly degraded by the proteasome to activate CD8 T cells without inducing antibody response. All test tumors were rejected in pcytneu-immunized mice, regardless of their sensitivity to gefitinib or antibody. Therefore, cytotoxic T lymphocytes activated by the complete repertoire of neu epitopes were effective against all test tumors. These results warrant Her-2 vaccination whether tumor cells are sensitive or resistant to Her-2-targeted drugs or antibody therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula J Whittington
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA
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