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Schulz B, Leitner E, Schreiber T, Lindner T, Schwarz R, Aboutara N, Ma Y, Escobar HM, Palme R, Hinz B, Vollmar B, Zechner D. Sex Matters-Insights from Testing Drug Efficacy in an Animal Model of Pancreatic Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1901. [PMID: 38791980 PMCID: PMC11120498 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16101901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Preclinical studies rarely test the efficacy of therapies in both sexes. The field of oncology is no exception in this regard. In a model of syngeneic, orthotopic, metastasized pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma we evaluated the impact of sex on pathological features of this disease as well as on the efficacy and possible adverse side effects of a novel, small molecule-based therapy inhibiting KRAS:SOS1, MEK1/2 and PI3K signaling in male and female C57BL/6J mice. Male mice had less tumor infiltration of CD8-positive cells, developed bigger tumors, had more lung metastasis and a lower probability of survival compared to female mice. These more severe pathological features in male animals were accompanied by higher distress at the end of the experiment. The evaluated inhibitors BI-3406, trametinib and BKM120 showed synergistic effects in vitro. This combinatorial therapy reduced tumor weight more efficiently in male animals, although the drug concentrations were similar in the tumors of both sexes. These results underline the importance of sex-specific preclinical research and at the same time provide a solid basis for future studies with the tested compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Schulz
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (B.S.)
| | - Emily Leitner
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (B.S.)
| | - Tim Schreiber
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (B.S.)
| | - Tobias Lindner
- Core Facility Multimodal Small Animal Imaging, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany;
| | - Rico Schwarz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Nadine Aboutara
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Yixuan Ma
- Department of Medicine Clinic III, Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Hugo Murua Escobar
- Department of Medicine Clinic III, Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Rupert Palme
- Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Burkhard Hinz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Brigitte Vollmar
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (B.S.)
| | - Dietmar Zechner
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (B.S.)
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2
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Tartaglia G, Park PH, Alexander MH, Nyström A, Rosenbloom J, South AP. Trametinib-Induced Epidermal Thinning Accelerates a Mouse Model of Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13050740. [PMID: 37238610 DOI: 10.3390/biom13050740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB) patients experience skin and epithelial fragility due to a pathological deficiency in genes associated with epidermal adhesion. Disease severity ranges from post-natal lethality to localized skin involvement with persistent blistering followed by granulation tissue formation and atrophic scarring. We evaluated the potential of utilizing Trametinib, an MEK inhibitor previously shown to target fibrosis, with and without the documented EB-anti-fibrotic Losartan for reducing disease severity in a mouse model of JEB; Lamc2jeb mice. We found that Trametinib treatment accelerated disease onset and decreased epidermal thickness, which was in large part ameliorated by Losartan treatment. Interestingly, a range of disease severity was observed in Trametinib-treated animals that tracked with epidermal thickness; those animals grouped with higher disease severity had thinner epidermis. To examine if the difference in severity was related to inflammation, we conducted immunohistochemistry for the immune cell markers CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD45 as well as the fibrotic marker αSMA in mouse ears. We used a positive pixel algorithm to analyze the resulting images and demonstrated that Trametinib caused a non-significant reduction in CD4 expression that inversely tracked with increased fibrotic severity. With the addition of Losartan to Trametinib, CD4 expression was similar to control. Together, these data suggest that Trametinib causes a reduction in both epidermal proliferation and immune cell infiltration/proliferation, with concurrent acceleration of skin fragility, while Losartan counteracts Trametinib's adverse effects in a mouse model of JEB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Tartaglia
- Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Pyung Hun Park
- Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Michael H Alexander
- Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Alexander Nyström
- Department of Dermatology, Medical Faculty, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Joel Rosenbloom
- Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
- The Joan and Joel Rosenbloom Research Center for Fibrotic Diseases, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Andrew P South
- Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
- The Joan and Joel Rosenbloom Research Center for Fibrotic Diseases, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
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3
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M A, Xavier J, A S F, Bisht P, Murti K, Ravichandiran V, Kumar N. Epigenetic basis for PARP mutagenesis in glioblastoma: A review. Eur J Pharmacol 2022; 938:175424. [PMID: 36442619 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.175424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Several modifications in the glioblastoma genes are caused by epigenetic modifications, which are crucial in appropriate developmental processes such as self-renewal and destiny determination of neural stem cells. Poly (ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) is an essential cofactor involved in DNA repair as well as several other cellular functions such as transcription and chromatin shape modification. Inhibiting PARP has evolved for triggering cell damage in cancerous cells when paired with certain other anticancer drugs including temozolomide (TMZ). PARP1 is involved with in base excision repair (BER) pathway, however its functionality differs across types of tumours. Epigenomics as well as chromosomal statistics have contributed to the growth of main subgroups of glioma, which serve as foundation for the categorization of central nervous system (CNS) tumours as well as a unique classification based only on DNA methylation information, which demonstrates extraordinary diagnostic accuracy. Unfortunately, not all patients respond to PARP inhibitors (PARPi), and there is no way to anticipate who will and who will not. In this field, PARPi are one of the innovative medicines currently being explored. As a result, cancer cells that also have a homologous recombination defect become fatal synthetically. As well as preparing the tumour microenvironment for immunotherapy, PARPi may enhance the lethal effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This article analyzes the justification and clinical evidence for PARPi in glioma to offer potential therapeutic approaches. Despite the effectiveness of these targeted drugs, researchers have looked into a number of resistance mechanisms as well as the growing usage of PARPi in clinical practice for the treatment of various malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anu M
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Vaishali, Bihar, 844102, India
| | - Joyal Xavier
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Vaishali, Bihar, 844102, India
| | - Fathima A S
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Vaishali, Bihar, 844102, India
| | - Priya Bisht
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Vaishali, Bihar, 844102, India
| | - Krishna Murti
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Vaishali, Bihar, 844102, India
| | - V Ravichandiran
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Vaishali, Bihar, 844102, India; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Vaishali, Bihar, 844102, India; Department of Pharmacy Practice, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Vaishali, Bihar, 844102, India
| | - Nitesh Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Vaishali, Bihar, 844102, India.
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4
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Targeting oncogene and non-oncogene addiction to inflame the tumour microenvironment. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2022; 21:440-462. [PMID: 35292771 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-022-00415-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the clinical management of multiple tumours. However, only a few patients respond to ICIs, which has generated considerable interest in the identification of resistance mechanisms. One such mechanism reflects the ability of various oncogenic pathways, as well as stress response pathways required for the survival of transformed cells (a situation commonly referred to as 'non-oncogene addiction'), to support tumour progression not only by providing malignant cells with survival and/or proliferation advantages, but also by establishing immunologically 'cold' tumour microenvironments (TMEs). Thus, both oncogene and non-oncogene addiction stand out as promising targets to robustly inflame the TME and potentially enable superior responses to ICIs.
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5
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Smith PL, Piadel K, Dalgleish AG. Directing T-Cell Immune Responses for Cancer Vaccination and Immunotherapy. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:1392. [PMID: 34960140 PMCID: PMC8708201 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9121392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer vaccination and immunotherapy revolutionised the treatment of cancer, a result of decades of research into the immune system in health and disease. However, despite recent breakthroughs in treating otherwise terminal cancer, only a minority of patients respond to cancer immunotherapy and some cancers are largely refractive to immunotherapy treatment. This is due to numerous issues intrinsic to the tumour, its microenvironment, or the immune system. CD4+ and CD8+ αβ T-cells emerged as the primary effector cells of the anti-tumour immune response but their function in cancer patients is often compromised. This review details the mechanisms by which T-cell responses are hindered in the setting of cancer and refractive to immunotherapy, and details many of the approaches under investigation to direct T-cell function and improve the efficacy of cancer vaccination and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Lawrence Smith
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, St. Georges University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK; (K.P.); (A.G.D.)
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6
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Petroni G, Buqué A, Zitvogel L, Kroemer G, Galluzzi L. Immunomodulation by targeted anticancer agents. Cancer Cell 2021; 39:310-345. [PMID: 33338426 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2020.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
At odds with conventional chemotherapeutics, targeted anticancer agents are designed to inhibit precise molecular alterations that support oncogenesis or tumor progression. Despite such an elevated degree of molecular specificity, many clinically employed and experimental targeted anticancer agents also mediate immunostimulatory or immunosuppressive effects that (at least in some settings) influence therapeutic efficacy. Here, we discuss the main immunomodulatory effects of targeted anticancer agents and explore potential avenues to harness them in support of superior clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Petroni
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Aitziber Buqué
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Laurence Zitvogel
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Center, Villejuif, France; INSERM U1015, Villejuif, France; Center of Clinical Investigations in Biotherapies of Cancer (CICBT) 1428, Villejuif, France; Faculty of Medicine, Paris-Saclay University, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Guido Kroemer
- Equipe Labellisée Par La Ligue Contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM U1138, Université de Paris, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France; Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France; Pôle de Biologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France; Suzhou Institute for Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Suzhou, China; Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Université de Paris, Paris, France.
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7
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Melssen MM, Lindsay RS, Stasiak K, Rodriguez AB, Briegel AM, Cyranowski S, Rutkowski MR, Conaway MR, Melief CJM, van der Burg SH, Eyo U, Slingluff CL, Engelhard VH. Differential Expression of CD49a and CD49b Determines Localization and Function of Tumor-Infiltrating CD8 + T Cells. Cancer Immunol Res 2021; 9:583-597. [PMID: 33619119 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-20-0427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
CD8+ T-cell infiltration and effector activity in tumors are correlated with better overall survival of patients, suggesting that the ability of T cells to enter and remain in contact with tumor cells supports tumor control. CD8+ T cells express the collagen-binding integrins CD49a and CD49b, but little is known about their function or how their expression is regulated in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, we found that tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells initially expressed CD49b, gained CD49a, and then lost CD49b over the course of tumor outgrowth. This differentiation sequence was driven by antigen-independent elements in the TME, although T-cell receptor (TCR) stimulation further increased CD49a expression. Expression of exhaustion markers and CD49a associated temporally but not mechanistically. Intratumoral CD49a-expressing CD8+ T cells failed to upregulate TCR-dependent Nur77 expression, whereas CD69 was constitutively expressed, consistent with both a lack of productive antigen engagement and a tissue-resident memory-like phenotype. Imaging T cells in live tumor slices revealed that CD49a increased their motility, especially of those in close proximity to tumor cells, suggesting that it may interfere with T-cell recognition of tumor cells by distracting them from productive engagement, although we were not able to augment productive engagement by short-term CD49a blockade. CD49b also promoted relocalization of T cells at a greater distance from tumor cells. Thus, our results demonstrate that expression of these integrins affects T-cell trafficking and localization in tumors via distinct mechanisms, and suggests a new way in which the TME, and likely collagen, could promote tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T-cell dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marit M Melssen
- Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.,Department of Medical Oncology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Robin S Lindsay
- Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Katarzyna Stasiak
- Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Anthony B Rodriguez
- Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Amanda M Briegel
- Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Salwador Cyranowski
- Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Melanie R Rutkowski
- Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Mark R Conaway
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Cornelis J M Melief
- Department of Medical Oncology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.,ISA Pharmaceutical, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Sjoerd H van der Burg
- Department of Medical Oncology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Ukpong Eyo
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Craig L Slingluff
- Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.,Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Victor H Engelhard
- Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia. .,Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
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8
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Dennison L, Mohan AA, Yarchoan M. Tumor and Systemic Immunomodulatory Effects of MEK Inhibition. Curr Oncol Rep 2021; 23:23. [PMID: 33547983 PMCID: PMC8028056 DOI: 10.1007/s11912-020-01008-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase (MEK) is an integral component of the RAS signaling pathway, one of the most frequently mutated pathways in cancer biology. MEK inhibitors were initially developed to directly target oncogenic signaling, but are recognized to have pleiotropic effects on both tumor cells and lymphocytes. Here, we review the preclinical and clinical evidence that MEK inhibition is immunomodulatory and discuss the potential rationale for combining MEK inhibitors with systemic immunotherapies. RECENT FINDINGS MEK inhibition may modulate the tumor microenvironment (TME) through direct effects on both tumor cells and immune cells. Despite encouraging evidence that MEK inhibition can reprogram the tumor microenvironment (TME) and augment anti-tumor immunity regardless of KRAS/BRAF status, recent clinical outcome studies combining MEK inhibition with systemic immunotherapy have yielded mixed results. The combination of MEK inhibitors plus systemic immunotherapies has been tolerable, but has thus far failed to demonstrate clear evidence of synergistic clinical activity. These results underscore the need to understand the appropriate therapeutic context for this combination. MEK inhibitors have the potential to inhibit oncogenic signaling and reprogram the tumor immune microenvironment, representing an attractive therapy to combine with systemic immunotherapies. Ongoing preclinical and clinical studies will further clarify the immunomodulatory effects of MEK inhibitors to inform the design of rational therapeutic combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Dennison
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA
| | - Aditya A Mohan
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA
| | - Mark Yarchoan
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA.
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9
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Erkes DA, Cai W, Sanchez IM, Purwin TJ, Rogers C, Field CO, Berger AC, Hartsough EJ, Rodeck U, Alnemri ES, Aplin AE. Mutant BRAF and MEK Inhibitors Regulate the Tumor Immune Microenvironment via Pyroptosis. Cancer Discov 2020; 10:254-269. [PMID: 31796433 PMCID: PMC7007378 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-19-0672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 269] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Combinations of BRAF inhibitors and MEK inhibitors (BRAFi + MEKi) are FDA-approved to treat BRAF V600E/K-mutant melanoma. Efficacy of BRAFi + MEKi associates with cancer cell death and alterations in the tumor immune microenvironment; however, the links are poorly understood. We show that BRAFi + MEKi caused durable melanoma regression in an immune-mediated manner. BRAFi + MEKi treatment promoted cleavage of gasdermin E (GSDME) and release of HMGB1, markers of pyroptotic cell death. GSDME-deficient melanoma showed defective HMGB1 release, reduced tumor-associated T cell and activated dendritic cell infiltrates in response to BRAFi + MEKi, and more frequent tumor regrowth after drug removal. Importantly, BRAFi + MEKi-resistant disease lacked pyroptosis markers and showed decreased intratumoral T-cell infiltration but was sensitive to pyroptosis-inducing chemotherapy. These data implicate BRAFi + MEKi-induced pyroptosis in antitumor immune responses and highlight new therapeutic strategies for resistant melanoma. SIGNIFICANCE: Targeted inhibitors and immune checkpoint agents have advanced the care of patients with melanoma; however, detailed knowledge of the intersection between these two research areas is lacking. We describe a molecular mechanism of targeted inhibitor regulation of an immune-stimulatory form of cell death and provide a proof-of-principle salvage therapy concept for inhibitor-resistant melanoma.See related commentary by Smalley, p. 176.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 161.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan A Erkes
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Weijia Cai
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ileine M Sanchez
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Timothy J Purwin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Corey Rogers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Conroy O Field
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Adam C Berger
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Edward J Hartsough
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ulrich Rodeck
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Emad S Alnemri
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Andrew E Aplin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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10
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Acute myeloid leukemia-induced T-cell suppression can be reversed by inhibition of the MAPK pathway. Blood Adv 2019; 3:3038-3051. [PMID: 31648326 PMCID: PMC6849941 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2019000574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains difficult to treat due to mutational heterogeneity and the development of resistance to therapy. Targeted agents, such as MEK inhibitors, may be incorporated into treatment; however, the impact of MEK inhibitors on the immune microenvironment in AML is not well understood. A greater understanding of the implications of MEK inhibition on immune responses may lead to a greater understanding of immune evasion and more rational combinations with immunotherapies. This study describes the impact of trametinib on both T cells and AML blast cells by using an immunosuppressive mouse model of AML and primary patient samples. We also used a large AML database of functional drug screens to understand characteristics of trametinib-sensitive samples. In the mouse model, trametinib increased T-cell viability and restored T-cell proliferation. Importantly, we report greater proliferation in the CD8+CD44+ effector subpopulation and impaired activation of CD8+CD62L+ naive cells. Transcriptome analysis revealed that trametinib-sensitive samples have an inflammatory gene expression profile, and we also observed increased programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression on trametinib-sensitive samples. Finally, we found that trametinib consistently reduced PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression in a dose-dependent manner on the myeloid population. Altogether, our data present greater insight into the impact of trametinib on the immune microenvironment and characteristics of trametinib-sensitive patient samples.
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11
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García-Martínez E, Smith M, Buqué A, Aranda F, de la Peña FA, Ivars A, Cánovas MS, Conesa MAV, Fucikova J, Spisek R, Zitvogel L, Kroemer G, Galluzzi L. Trial Watch: Immunostimulation with recombinant cytokines for cancer therapy. Oncoimmunology 2018; 7:e1433982. [PMID: 29872569 PMCID: PMC5980390 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2018.1433982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytokines regulate virtually aspects of innate and adaptive immunity, including the initiation, execution and extinction of tumor-targeting immune responses. Over the past three decades, the possibility of using recombinant cytokines as a means to elicit or boost clinically relevant anticancer immune responses has attracted considerable attention. However, only three cytokines have been approved so far by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency for use in cancer patients, namely, recombinant interleukin (IL)-2 and two variants of recombinant interferon alpha 2 (IFN-α2a and IFN-α2b). Moreover, the use of these cytokines in the clinics is steadily decreasing, mostly as a consequence of: (1) the elevated pleiotropism of IL-2, IFN-α2a and IFN-α2b, resulting in multiple unwarranted effects; and (2) the development of highly effective immunostimulatory therapeutics, such as immune checkpoint blockers. Despite this and other obstacles, research in the field continues as alternative cytokines with restricted effects on specific cell populations are being evaluated. Here, we summarize research preclinical and clinical developments on the use of recombinant cytokines for immunostimulation in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena García-Martínez
- Hematology and Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario Morales Meseguer, Murcia, Spain
| | - Melody Smith
- Department of Medicine and Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Aitziber Buqué
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Fernando Aranda
- Immunoreceptors of the Innate and Adaptive System, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Alejandra Ivars
- Hematology and Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario Morales Meseguer, Murcia, Spain
| | - Manuel Sanchez Cánovas
- Hematology and Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario Morales Meseguer, Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Jitka Fucikova
- Sotio, Prague, Czech Republic
- Dept. of Immunology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Radek Spisek
- Sotio, Prague, Czech Republic
- Dept. of Immunology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Laurence Zitvogel
- Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France
- INSERM, U1015, Villejuif, France
- Center of Clinical Investigations in Biotherapies of Cancer (CICBT) 1428, Villejuif, France
- Université Paris Sud/Paris XI, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Guido Kroemer
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris
- Equipe 11 labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France
- Karolinska Institute, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Pôle de Biologie, Hopitâl Européen George Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, France
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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12
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Duperret EK, Trautz A, Ammons D, Perales-Puchalt A, Wise MC, Yan J, Reed C, Weiner DB. Alteration of the Tumor Stroma Using a Consensus DNA Vaccine Targeting Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP) Synergizes with Antitumor Vaccine Therapy in Mice. Clin Cancer Res 2017; 24:1190-1201. [PMID: 29269377 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-2033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Revised: 11/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is overexpressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts and is an interesting target for cancer immune therapy, with prior studies indicating a potential to affect the tumor stroma. Our aim was to extend this earlier work through the development of a novel FAP immunogen with improved capacity to break tolerance for use in combination with tumor antigen vaccines.Experimental Design: We used a synthetic consensus (SynCon) sequence approach to provide MHC class II help to support breaking of tolerance. We evaluated immune responses and antitumor activity of this novel FAP vaccine in preclinical studies, and correlated these findings to patient data.Results: This SynCon FAP DNA vaccine was capable of breaking tolerance and inducing both CD8+ and CD4+ immune responses. In genetically diverse, outbred mice, the SynCon FAP DNA vaccine was superior at breaking tolerance compared with a native mouse FAP immunogen. In several tumor models, the SynCon FAP DNA vaccine synergized with other tumor antigen-specific DNA vaccines to enhance antitumor immunity. Evaluation of the tumor microenvironment showed increased CD8+ T-cell infiltration and a decreased macrophage infiltration driven by FAP immunization. We extended this to patient data from The Cancer Genome Atlas, where we find high FAP expression correlates with high macrophage and low CD8+ T-cell infiltration.Conclusions: These results suggest that immune therapy targeting tumor antigens in combination with a microconsensus FAP vaccine provides two-fisted punch-inducing responses that target both the tumor microenvironment and tumor cells directly. Clin Cancer Res; 24(5); 1190-201. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aspen Trautz
- Vaccine Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Dylan Ammons
- Vaccine Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Megan C Wise
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania
| | - Jian Yan
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania
| | - Charles Reed
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania
| | - David B Weiner
- Vaccine Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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13
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Bedognetti D, Roelands J, Decock J, Wang E, Hendrickx W. The MAPK hypothesis: immune-regulatory effects of MAPK-pathway genetic dysregulations and implications for breast cancer immunotherapy. Emerg Top Life Sci 2017; 1:429-445. [PMID: 33525803 PMCID: PMC7289005 DOI: 10.1042/etls20170142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Revised: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
With the advent of checkpoint inhibition, immunotherapy has revolutionized the clinical management of several cancers, but has demonstrated limited efficacy in mammary carcinoma. Transcriptomic profiling of cancer samples defined distinct immunophenotypic categories characterized by different prognostic and predictive connotations. In breast cancer, genomic alterations leading to the dysregulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways have been linked to an immune-silent phenotype associated with poor outcome and treatment resistance. These aberrations include mutations of MAP3K1 and MAP2K4, amplification of KRAS, BRAF, and RAF1, and truncations of NF1. Anticancer therapies targeting MAPK signaling by BRAF and MEK inhibitors have demonstrated clear immunologic effects. These off-target properties could be exploited to convert the immune-silent tumor phenotype into an immune-active one. Preclinical evidence supports that MAPK-pathway inhibition can dramatically increase the efficacy of immunotherapy. In this review, we provide a detailed overview of the immunomodulatory impact of MAPK-pathway blockade through BRAF and MEK inhibitions. While BRAF inhibition might be relevant in melanoma only, MEK inhibition is potentially applicable to a wide range of tumors. Context-dependent similarities and differences of MAPK modulation will be dissected, in light of the complexity of the MAPK pathways. Therapeutic strategies combining the favorable effects of MAPK-oriented interventions on the tumor microenvironment while maintaining T-cell function will be presented. Finally, we will discuss recent studies highlighting the rationale for the implementation of MAPK-interference approaches in combination with checkpoint inhibitors and immune agonists in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Bedognetti
- Tumor Biology, Immunology, and Therapy Section, Department of Immunology, Inflammation and Metabolism, Division of Translational Medicine, Research Branch, Sidra Medical and Research Center, Doha, Qatar
- College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Jessica Roelands
- Tumor Biology, Immunology, and Therapy Section, Department of Immunology, Inflammation and Metabolism, Division of Translational Medicine, Research Branch, Sidra Medical and Research Center, Doha, Qatar
| | - Julie Decock
- Cancer Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ena Wang
- Division of Translational Medicine, Research Branch, Sidra Medical and Research Center, Doha, Qatar
| | - Wouter Hendrickx
- Tumor Biology, Immunology, and Therapy Section, Department of Immunology, Inflammation and Metabolism, Division of Translational Medicine, Research Branch, Sidra Medical and Research Center, Doha, Qatar
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14
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Mah AY, Rashidi A, Keppel MP, Saucier N, Moore EK, Alinger JB, Tripathy SK, Agarwal SK, Jeng EK, Wong HC, Miller JS, Fehniger TA, Mace EM, French AR, Cooper MA. Glycolytic requirement for NK cell cytotoxicity and cytomegalovirus control. JCI Insight 2017; 2:95128. [PMID: 29212951 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.95128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
NK cell activation has been shown to be metabolically regulated in vitro; however, the role of metabolism during in vivo NK cell responses to infection is unknown. We examined the role of glycolysis in NK cell function during murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection and the ability of IL-15 to prime NK cells during CMV infection. The glucose metabolism inhibitor 2-deoxy-ᴅ-glucose (2DG) impaired both mouse and human NK cell cytotoxicity following priming in vitro. Similarly, MCMV-infected mice treated with 2DG had impaired clearance of NK-specific targets in vivo, which was associated with higher viral burden and susceptibility to infection on the C57BL/6 background. IL-15 priming is known to alter NK cell metabolism and metabolic requirements for activation. Treatment with the IL-15 superagonist ALT-803 rescued mice from otherwise lethal infection in an NK-dependent manner. Consistent with this, treatment of a patient with ALT-803 for recurrent CMV reactivation after hematopoietic cell transplant was associated with clearance of viremia. These studies demonstrate that NK cell-mediated control of viral infection requires glucose metabolism and that IL-15 treatment in vivo can reduce this requirement and may be effective as an antiviral therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelise Y Mah
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Armin Rashidi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Molly P Keppel
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Nermina Saucier
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Emily K Moore
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Joshua B Alinger
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Sandeep K Tripathy
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Sandeep K Agarwal
- Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology, Allergy, and Rheumatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | | | - Jeffrey S Miller
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Todd A Fehniger
- Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Emily M Mace
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Anthony R French
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Megan A Cooper
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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15
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Hartsough EJ, Kugel CH, Vido MJ, Berger AC, Purwin TJ, Goldberg A, Davies MA, Schiewer MJ, Knudsen KE, Bollag G, Aplin AE. Response and Resistance to Paradox-Breaking BRAF Inhibitor in Melanomas In Vivo and Ex Vivo. Mol Cancer Ther 2017; 17:84-95. [PMID: 29133617 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-17-0705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
FDA-approved BRAF inhibitors produce high response rates and improve overall survival in patients with BRAF V600E/K-mutant melanoma, but are linked to pathologies associated with paradoxical ERK1/2 activation in wild-type BRAF cells. To overcome this limitation, a next-generation paradox-breaking RAF inhibitor (PLX8394) has been designed. Here, we show that by using a quantitative reporter assay, PLX8394 rapidly suppressed ERK1/2 reporter activity and growth of mutant BRAF melanoma xenografts. Ex vivo treatment of xenografts and use of a patient-derived explant system (PDeX) revealed that PLX8394 suppressed ERK1/2 signaling and elicited apoptosis more effectively than the FDA-approved BRAF inhibitor, vemurafenib. Furthermore, PLX8394 was efficacious against vemurafenib-resistant BRAF splice variant-expressing tumors and reduced splice variant homodimerization. Importantly, PLX8394 did not induce paradoxical activation of ERK1/2 in wild-type BRAF cell lines or PDeX. Continued in vivo dosing of xenografts with PLX8394 led to the development of acquired resistance via ERK1/2 reactivation through heterogeneous mechanisms; however, resistant cells were found to have differential sensitivity to ERK1/2 inhibitor. These findings highlight the efficacy of a paradox-breaking selective BRAF inhibitor and the use of PDeX system to test the efficacy of therapeutic agents. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(1); 84-95. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward J Hartsough
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Curtis H Kugel
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Michael J Vido
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Adam C Berger
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Timothy J Purwin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Allison Goldberg
- Department of Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Michael A Davies
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Matthew J Schiewer
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Karen E Knudsen
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Andrew E Aplin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. .,Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
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16
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Dushyanthen S, Teo ZL, Caramia F, Savas P, Mintoff CP, Virassamy B, Henderson MA, Luen SJ, Mansour M, Kershaw MH, Trapani JA, Neeson PJ, Salgado R, McArthur GA, Balko JM, Beavis PA, Darcy PK, Loi S. Agonist immunotherapy restores T cell function following MEK inhibition improving efficacy in breast cancer. Nat Commun 2017; 8:606. [PMID: 28928458 PMCID: PMC5605577 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00728-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in triple-negative breast cancers is correlated with improved outcomes. Ras/MAPK pathway activation is associated with significantly lower levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in triple-negative breast cancers and while MEK inhibition can promote recruitment of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes to the tumor, here we show that MEK inhibition adversely affects early onset T-cell effector function. We show that α-4-1BB and α-OX-40 T-cell agonist antibodies can rescue the adverse effects of MEK inhibition on T cells in both mouse and human T cells, which results in augmented anti-tumor effects in vivo. This effect is dependent upon increased downstream p38/JNK pathway activation. Taken together, our data suggest that although Ras/MAPK pathway inhibition can increase tumor immunogenicity, the negative impact on T-cell activity is functionally important. This undesirable impact is effectively prevented by combination with T-cell immune agonist immunotherapies resulting in superior therapeutic efficacy.MEK inhibition in breast cancer is associated with increased tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), however, MAPK activity is required for T cells function. Here the authors show that TILs activity following MEK inhibition can be enhanced by agonist immunotherapy resulting in synergic therapeutic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zhi Ling Teo
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Franco Caramia
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Peter Savas
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Stephen J Luen
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Mariam Mansour
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Michael H Kershaw
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Joseph A Trapani
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Paul J Neeson
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Roberto Salgado
- Breast Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Institute Jules Bordet, Brussels, 1000, Belgium
| | | | - Justin M Balko
- Breast Cancer Research Program and Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Centre and Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Paul A Beavis
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia. .,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
| | - Phillip K Darcy
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia. .,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
| | - Sherene Loi
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia. .,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
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17
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Allegrezza MJ, Rutkowski MR, Stephen TL, Svoronos N, Perales-Puchalt A, Nguyen JM, Payne KK, Singhal S, Eruslanov EB, Tchou J, Conejo-Garcia JR. Trametinib Drives T-cell-Dependent Control of KRAS-Mutated Tumors by Inhibiting Pathological Myelopoiesis. Cancer Res 2017; 76:6253-6265. [PMID: 27803104 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-16-1308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 08/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Targeted therapies elicit seemingly paradoxical and poorly understood effects on tumor immunity. Here, we show that the MEK inhibitor trametinib abrogates cytokine-driven expansion of monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (mMDSC) from human or mouse myeloid progenitors. MEK inhibition also reduced the production of the mMDSC chemotactic factor osteopontin by tumor cells. Together, these effects reduced mMDSC accumulation in tumor-bearing hosts, limiting the outgrowth of KRas-driven breast tumors, even though trametinib largely failed to directly inhibit tumor cell proliferation. Accordingly, trametinib impeded tumor progression in vivo through a mechanism requiring CD8+ T cells, which was paradoxical given the drug's reported ability to inhibit effector lymphocytes. Confirming our observations, adoptive transfer of tumor-derived mMDSC reversed the ability of trametinib to control tumor growth. Overall, our work showed how the effects of trametinib on immune cells could partly explain its effectiveness, distinct from its activity on tumor cells themselves. More broadly, by providing a more incisive view into how MEK inhibitors may act against tumors, our findings expand their potential uses to generally block mMDSC expansion, which occurs widely in cancers to drive their growth and progression. Cancer Res; 76(21); 6253-65. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Allegrezza
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Melanie R Rutkowski
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Tom L Stephen
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Nikolaos Svoronos
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Alfredo Perales-Puchalt
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jenny M Nguyen
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Kyle K Payne
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sunil Singhal
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Evgeniy B Eruslanov
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Julia Tchou
- Division of Endocrine and Oncologic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jose R Conejo-Garcia
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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18
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Sengupta S. Cancer Nanomedicine: Lessons for Immuno-Oncology. Trends Cancer 2017; 3:551-560. [PMID: 28780932 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2017.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2017] [Revised: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Cancer nanotechnology and cancer immunotherapy are two parallel themes that have emerged over the last few decades in the search for a cure for cancer. Exciting applications can emerge at the intersection of these two fields. However, it is important to learn from the past successes and failures of cancer nanomedicines for its future applications in cancer immunotherapy. This review discusses the two key parameters that defined clinical success in the case of cancer nanomedicines: (i) physicochemical design principles, and (ii) clinical trial design, which are frequently overlooked in most analyses of the state of the field. Learning from the design principles that defined success for the clinically-used cancer nanomedicines can enable the design of next-generation nanomedicines that can address some of the emerging challenges in cancer immunotherapy, for example (i) enabling combinations of molecularly targeted therapies with immunotherapies that are pharmacologically incompatible; (ii) early monitoring of efficacy of immunotherapies; and (iii) personalizing an immune response to a patient's tumor. Currently, only a subset of patients treated with immunotherapy exhibit durable response; the integration of nanomedicine and immunotherapy to address the above challenges can lead to new paradigms in the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiladitya Sengupta
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
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19
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Targeted Therapy and Immunosuppression in the Tumor Microenvironment. Trends Cancer 2016; 3:19-27. [PMID: 28718424 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2016.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Revised: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Small-molecule inhibitors offer great promise for targeting pathways that are specifically deregulated in different tumors. However, such 'targeted' therapies also elicit poorly understood effects on protective antitumor immunity. Given the emerging relevance of immunotherapies that boost pre-existing T cell responses, understanding how different immune cells are affected by small-molecule inhibitors could lead to more-effective interventions, alone or combined with immunotherapy. This review discusses the growing array of activities elicited by multiple 'targeted' inhibitors on antitumor immunity, underscoring the complex effects resulting from diverse activities on different immune cell types in vivo, and the need to conduct mechanistic research that identifies drugs performing well not only in immunocompromised mice but also in the presence of spontaneous or therapeutic antitumor immunity.
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20
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Deng C, Jia M, Wei G, Tan T, Fu Y, Gao H, Sun X, Zhang Q, Gong T, Zhang Z. Inducing Optimal Antitumor Immune Response through Coadministering iRGD with Pirarubicin Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Breast Cancer Therapy. Mol Pharm 2016; 14:296-309. [PMID: 27936775 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.6b00932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Caifeng Deng
- Key
Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems, Ministry of
Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Mengdi Jia
- Key
Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems, Ministry of
Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Guangfei Wei
- Key
Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems, Ministry of
Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Tiantian Tan
- Key
Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems, Ministry of
Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yao Fu
- Key
Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems, Ministry of
Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Huile Gao
- Key
Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems, Ministry of
Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xun Sun
- Key
Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems, Ministry of
Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Quan Zhang
- Key
Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems, Ministry of
Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- School
of Pharmacy, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610083, China
| | - Tao Gong
- Key
Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems, Ministry of
Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zhirong Zhang
- Key
Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems, Ministry of
Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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21
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Zheng DW, Chen JL, Zhu JY, Rong L, Li B, Lei Q, Fan JX, Zou MZ, Li C, Cheng SX, Xu Z, Zhang XZ. Highly Integrated Nano-Platform for Breaking the Barrier between Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy. NANO LETTERS 2016; 16:4341-7. [PMID: 27327876 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.6b01432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Fighting metastasis is a major challenge in cancer therapy, and stimulation of the immune system is of particular importance in the treatment of metastatic cancers. Here, an integrated theranostic nanoplatform was developed for the efficient treatment of highly metastatic tumors. Versatile functions including "And" logically controlled drug release, prolonged circulation time, tumor targeting, and anti-metastasis were integrated into doxorubicin (DOX) loaded, highly integrated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DOX@HIMSNs) for a systemic treatment of highly metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). It was found that the good therapeutic effect of DOX@HIMSN was only partially attributed to its anticancer cytotoxicity. Most importantly, DOX@HIMSN could induce anticancer immune responses including dendritic cell (DC) maturation and antitumor cytokine release. Compared with the traditional tumor chemotherapy, the integrated theranostic nanoplatform we developed not only improved the tumor specific cytotoxicity but also stimulated antitumor immune responses during the treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di-Wei Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University , Wuhan 430072, P. R. China
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Organic Chemical Materials, Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Hubei University , Wuhan, Hubei 430062, P. R. China
| | - Jia-Li Chen
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University , Wuhan 430072, P. R. China
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Organic Chemical Materials, Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Hubei University , Wuhan, Hubei 430062, P. R. China
| | - Jing-Yi Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University , Wuhan 430072, P. R. China
| | - Lei Rong
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University , Wuhan 430072, P. R. China
| | - Bin Li
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University , Wuhan 430072, P. R. China
| | - Qi Lei
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University , Wuhan 430072, P. R. China
| | - Jin-Xuan Fan
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University , Wuhan 430072, P. R. China
| | - Mei-Zhen Zou
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University , Wuhan 430072, P. R. China
| | - Cao Li
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Organic Chemical Materials, Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Hubei University , Wuhan, Hubei 430062, P. R. China
| | - Si-Xue Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University , Wuhan 430072, P. R. China
| | - Zushun Xu
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Organic Chemical Materials, Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Hubei University , Wuhan, Hubei 430062, P. R. China
| | - Xian-Zheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University , Wuhan 430072, P. R. China
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Bottos A, Gotthardt D, Gill JW, Gattelli A, Frei A, Tzankov A, Sexl V, Wodnar-Filipowicz A, Hynes NE. Decreased NK-cell tumour immunosurveillance consequent to JAK inhibition enhances metastasis in breast cancer models. Nat Commun 2016; 7:12258. [PMID: 27406745 PMCID: PMC4947169 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The JAK/STAT pathway is an attractive target for breast cancer therapy due to its frequent activation, and clinical trials evaluating JAK inhibitors (JAKi) in advanced breast cancer are ongoing. Using patient biopsies and preclinical models of breast cancer, we demonstrate that the JAK/STAT pathway is active in metastasis. Unexpectedly, blocking the pathway with JAKi enhances the metastatic burden in experimental and orthotopic models of breast cancer metastasis. We demonstrate that this prometastatic effect is due to the immunosuppressive activity of JAKi with ensuing impairment of NK-cell-mediated anti-tumour immunity. Furthermore, we show that immunostimulation with IL-15 overcomes the enhancing effect of JAKi on metastasis formation. Our findings highlight the importance of evaluating the effect of targeted therapy on the tumour environment. The impact of JAKi on NK cells and the potential value of immunostimulators to overcome the weakened tumour immunosurveillance, are worthwhile considering in the clinical setting of breast cancer. JAK inhibitors are currently undergoing evaluation in clinical trials for advanced breast cancer. Here, the authors show that JAK pathway inhibition increases metastasis in mouse models of breast cancer by impairing NK anti-tumour activity and that these side effects can be overcome by addition of IL-15.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Bottos
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dagmar Gotthardt
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department for Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jason W Gill
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Albana Gattelli
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anna Frei
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alexandar Tzankov
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Basel, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Veronika Sexl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department for Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Nancy E Hynes
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
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