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Wu R, Sun F, Zhang W, Ren J, Liu GH. Targeting aging and age-related diseases with vaccines. NATURE AGING 2024; 4:464-482. [PMID: 38622408 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-024-00597-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Aging is a major risk factor for numerous chronic diseases. Vaccination offers a promising strategy to combat these age-related diseases by targeting specific antigens and inducing immune responses. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances in vaccine-based interventions targeting these diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, type II diabetes, hypertension, abdominal aortic aneurysm, atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, fibrosis and cancer, summarizing current approaches for identifying disease-associated antigens and inducing immune responses against these targets. Further, we reflect on the recent development of vaccines targeting senescent cells, as a strategy for more broadly targeting underlying causes of aging and associated pathologies. In addition to highlighting recent progress in these areas, we discuss important next steps to advance the therapeutic potential of these vaccines, including improving and robustly demonstrating efficacy in human clinical trials, as well as rigorously evaluating the safety and long-term effects of these vaccine strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruochen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Sun
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Weiqi Zhang
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China.
- Sino-Danish College, School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing, China.
| | - Jie Ren
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China.
- Sino-Danish College, School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing, China.
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China.
| | - Guang-Hui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing, China.
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China.
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
- Aging Translational Medicine Center, International Center for Aging and Cancer, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
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2
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Yarchoan M, Gane EJ, Marron TU, Perales-Linares R, Yan J, Cooch N, Shu DH, Fertig EJ, Kagohara LT, Bartha G, Northcott J, Lyle J, Rochestie S, Peters J, Connor JT, Jaffee EM, Csiki I, Weiner DB, Perales-Puchalt A, Sardesai NY. Personalized neoantigen vaccine and pembrolizumab in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a phase 1/2 trial. Nat Med 2024; 30:1044-1053. [PMID: 38584166 PMCID: PMC11031401 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-02894-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors have modest efficacy as a monotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A personalized therapeutic cancer vaccine (PTCV) may enhance responses to PD-1 inhibitors through the induction of tumor-specific immunity. We present results from a single-arm, open-label, phase 1/2 study of a DNA plasmid PTCV (GNOS-PV02) encoding up to 40 neoantigens coadministered with plasmid-encoded interleukin-12 plus pembrolizumab in patients with advanced HCC previously treated with a multityrosine kinase inhibitor. Safety and immunogenicity were assessed as primary endpoints, and treatment efficacy and feasibility were evaluated as secondary endpoints. The most common treatment-related adverse events were injection-site reactions, observed in 15 of 36 (41.6%) patients. No dose-limiting toxicities or treatment-related grade ≥3 events were observed. The objective response rate (modified intention-to-treat) per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1 was 30.6% (11 of 36 patients), with 8.3% (3 of 36) of patients achieving a complete response. Clinical responses were associated with the number of neoantigens encoded in the vaccine. Neoantigen-specific T cell responses were confirmed in 19 of 22 (86.4%) evaluable patients by enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assays. Multiparametric cellular profiling revealed active, proliferative and cytolytic vaccine-specific CD4+ and CD8+ effector T cells. T cell receptor β-chain (TCRβ) bulk sequencing results demonstrated vaccination-enriched T cell clone expansion and tumor infiltration. Single-cell analysis revealed posttreatment T cell clonal expansion of cytotoxic T cell phenotypes. TCR complementarity-determining region cloning of expanded T cell clones in the tumors following vaccination confirmed reactivity against vaccine-encoded neoantigens. Our results support the PTCV's mechanism of action based on the induction of antitumor T cells and show that a PTCV plus pembrolizumab has clinical activity in advanced HCC. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04251117 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Yarchoan
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Edward J Gane
- New Zealand Liver Transplant Unit, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Thomas U Marron
- Early Phase Trials Unit, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Jian Yan
- Geneos Therapeutics, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Neil Cooch
- Geneos Therapeutics, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Daniel H Shu
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Elana J Fertig
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Luciane T Kagohara
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jason T Connor
- ConfluenceStat, Cooper City, FL, USA
- University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Jaffee
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - David B Weiner
- Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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3
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Huang X, Zhu X, Yang H, Li Q, Gai L, Sui X, Lu H, Feng J. Nanomaterial Delivery Vehicles for the Development of Neoantigen Tumor Vaccines for Personalized Treatment. Molecules 2024; 29:1462. [PMID: 38611742 PMCID: PMC11012694 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29071462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor vaccines have been considered a promising therapeutic approach for treating cancer in recent years. With the development of sequencing technologies, tumor vaccines based on neoantigens or genomes specifically expressed in tumor cells, mainly in the form of peptides, nucleic acids, and dendritic cells, are beginning to receive widespread attention. Therefore, in this review, we have introduced different forms of neoantigen vaccines and discussed the development of these vaccines in treating cancer. Furthermore, neoantigen vaccines are influenced by factors such as antigen stability, weak immunogenicity, and biosafety in addition to sequencing technology. Hence, the biological nanomaterials, polymeric nanomaterials, inorganic nanomaterials, etc., used as vaccine carriers are principally summarized here, which may contribute to the design of neoantigen vaccines for improved stability and better efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Huang
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (X.H.); (X.Z.); (H.Y.); (Q.L.); (X.S.)
| | - Xiaolong Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (X.H.); (X.Z.); (H.Y.); (Q.L.); (X.S.)
| | - Huan Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (X.H.); (X.Z.); (H.Y.); (Q.L.); (X.S.)
| | - Qinyi Li
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (X.H.); (X.Z.); (H.Y.); (Q.L.); (X.S.)
| | - Lizhi Gai
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology of Ministry of Education, and Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Material Technology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China;
| | - Xinbing Sui
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (X.H.); (X.Z.); (H.Y.); (Q.L.); (X.S.)
| | - Hua Lu
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology of Ministry of Education, and Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Material Technology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China;
| | - Jiao Feng
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (X.H.); (X.Z.); (H.Y.); (Q.L.); (X.S.)
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4
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Xiang N, Zhang K, Zhao Y, Xu C, Zhang X, Meng S. Characterization of antigen presentation capability for neoantigen-based products using targeted LC-MS/MS method. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2024; 240:115886. [PMID: 38184916 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
The generation of an immune response in neoantigen-based products relies on antigen presentation, which is closely analyzed by bioassays for T-cell functions such as tetramer or cytokine release. Mass spectrometry (MS) has the potential to directly assess the antigen-presenting capability of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), offering advantages such as speed, multi-target analysis, robustness, and ease of transferability. However, it has not been used for quality control of these products due to challenges in sensitivity, including the number of cells and peptide diversity. In this study, we describe the development and validation of an improved targeted LC-MS/MS method with high sensitivity for characterizing antigen presentation, which could be applied in the quality control of neoantigen-based products. The parameters for the extraction were carefully optimized by different short peptides. Highly sensitive targeted triple quadrupole mass spectrometry combined with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) was employed using a selective ion monitoring mode (Multiple Reaction Monitoring, MRM). Besides, we successfully implemented robust quality control peptides to ensure the reliability and consistency of this method, which proved invaluable for different APCs. With reference to the guidelines from ICH Q2 (R2), M10, as well as considering the specific attributes of the product itself, we validated the method for selectivity, specificity, sensitivity, limit of detection (LOD), recovery rate, matrix effect, repeatability, and application in dendritic cells (DCs) associated with neoantigen-based products. The validation process yields satisfactory results. Combining this approach with T cell assays will comprehensively assess cell product quality attributes from physicochemical and biological perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Xiang
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; The Cell Collection and Research Center, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, No. 31 Huatuo St., Daxing District, Beijing, China
| | - Kehua Zhang
- The Cell Collection and Research Center, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, No. 31 Huatuo St., Daxing District, Beijing, China
| | - Yinghua Zhao
- SCIEX China, 5F, Building 1, No. 24 Jiuxianqiao Middle Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
| | - Chongfeng Xu
- The Cell Collection and Research Center, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, No. 31 Huatuo St., Daxing District, Beijing, China
| | - Xiuqing Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Shufang Meng
- The Cell Collection and Research Center, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, No. 31 Huatuo St., Daxing District, Beijing, China.
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5
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Shebbo S, Binothman N, Darwaish M, Niaz HA, Abdulal RH, Borjac J, Hashem AM, Mahmoud AB. Redefining the battle against colorectal cancer: a comprehensive review of emerging immunotherapies and their clinical efficacy. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1350208. [PMID: 38533510 PMCID: PMC10963412 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1350208] [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: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer globally and presents a significant challenge owing to its high mortality rate and the limitations of traditional treatment options such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. While these treatments are foundational, they are often poorly effective owing to tumor resistance. Immunotherapy is a groundbreaking alternative that has recently emerged and offers new hope for success by exploiting the body's own immune system. This article aims to provide an extensive review of clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of various immunotherapies, including CRC vaccines, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. We also discuss combining CRC vaccines with monoclonal antibodies, delve into preclinical studies of novel cancer vaccines, and assess the impact of these treatment methods on patient outcomes. This review seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the current state of CRC treatment by evaluating innovative treatments and their potential to redefine the prognosis of patients with CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salima Shebbo
- Strategic Research and Innovation Laboratories, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Beirut Arab University, Debbieh, Lebanon
| | - Najat Binothman
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences and Arts, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manar Darwaish
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Immunology Research Program, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hanan A. Niaz
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rwaa H. Abdulal
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jamilah Borjac
- Department of Biological Sciences, Beirut Arab University, Debbieh, Lebanon
| | - Anwar M. Hashem
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad Bakur Mahmoud
- Strategic Research and Innovation Laboratories, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
- College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Almadinah Almunawarah, Saudi Arabia
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6
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Al-Hawary SIS, Jasim SA, Hjazi A, Oghenemaro EF, Kaur I, Kumar A, Al-Ani AM, Alwaily ER, Redhee AH, Mustafa YF. Nucleic acid-based vaccine for ovarian cancer cells; bench to bedside. Cell Biochem Funct 2024; 42:e3978. [PMID: 38515237 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer continues to be a difficult medical issue that affects millions of individuals worldwide. Important platforms for cancer immunotherapy include checkpoint inhibitors, chimeric antigen receptor T cells, bispecific antibodies, cancer vaccines, and other cell-based treatments. To avoid numerous infectious illnesses, conventional vaccinations based on synthetic peptides, recombinant subunit vaccines, and live attenuated and inactivated pathogens are frequently utilized. Vaccine manufacturing processes, however, are not entirely safe and carry a significant danger of contaminating living microorganisms. As a result, the creation of substitute vaccinations is required for both viral and noninfectious illnesses, including cancer. Recently, there has been testing of nucleic acid vaccines, or NAVs, as a cancer therapeutic. Tumor antigens (TAs) are genetically encoded by DNA and mRNA vaccines, which the host uses to trigger immune responses against ovarian cancer cells that exhibit the TAs. Despite being straightforward, safe, and easy to produce, NAVs are not currently thought to be an ideal replacement for peptide vaccines. Some obstacles to this strategy include selecting the appropriate therapeutic agents (TAs), inadequate immunogenicity, and the immunosuppressive characteristic of ovarian cancer. We focus on strategies that have been employed to increase NAVs' effectiveness in the fight against ovarian cancer in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Saade Abdalkareem Jasim
- Medical Laboratory Techniques Department, Al-maarif University College, Anbar, Iraq
- Biotechnology Department, College of Applied Science, Fallujah University, Fallujah, Iraq
| | - Ahmed Hjazi
- Department of Medical Laboratory, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Enwa Felix Oghenemaro
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria
| | - Irwanjot Kaur
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetics, Jain (Deemed-to-be) University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
- Department of Allied Healthcare and Sciences, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Abhinav Kumar
- Department of Nuclear and Renewable Energy, Ural Federal University Named after The First President of Russia, Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | | | - Enas R Alwaily
- Microbiology Research Group, College of Pharmacy, Al-Ayen University, Thi-Qar, Iraq
| | - Ahmed Huseen Redhee
- Medical Laboratory Technique College, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq
- Medical Laboratory Technique College, The Islamic University of Al Diwaniyah, Al Diwaniyah, Iraq
- Medical Laboratory Technique College, The Islamic University of Babylon, Babylon, Iraq
| | - Yasser Fakri Mustafa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq
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7
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Sood S, Matar MM, Kim J, Kinsella M, Rayavara K, Signer O, Henderson J, Rogers J, Chawla B, Narvaez B, Van Ry A, Kar S, Arnold A, Rice JS, Smith AM, Su D, Sparks J, Le Goff C, Boyer JD, Anwer K. Strong immunogenicity & protection in mice with PlaCCine: A COVID-19 DNA vaccine formulated with a functional polymer. Vaccine 2024; 42:1300-1310. [PMID: 38302336 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.01.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
DNA- based vaccines have demonstrated the potential as a safe and effective modality. PlaCCine, a DNA-based vaccine approach described subsequently relies on a synthetic DNA delivery system and is independent of virus or device. The synthetic functionalized polymer combined with DNA demonstrated stability over 12 months at 4C and for one month at 25C. Transfection efficiency compared to naked DNA increased by 5-15-fold in murine skeletal muscle. Studies of DNA vaccines expressing spike proteins from variants D614G (pVAC15), Delta (pVAC16), or a D614G + Delta combination (pVAC17) were conducted. Mice immunized intramuscular injection (IM) with pVAC15, pVAC16 or pVAC17 formulated with functionalized polymer and adjuvant resulted in induction of spike-specific humoral and cellular responses. Antibody responses were observed after one immunization. And endpoint IgG titers increased to greater than 1x 105 two weeks after the second injection. Neutralizing antibodies as determined by a pseudovirus competition assay were observed following vaccination with pVAC15, pVAC16 or pVAC17. Spike specific T cell immune responses were also observed following vaccination and flow cytometry analysis demonstrated the cellular immune responses included both CD4 and CD8 spike specific T cells. The immune responses in vaccinated mice were maintained for up to 14 months after vaccination. In an immunization and challenge study of K18 hACE2 transgenic mice pVAC15, pVAC16 and pVAC17 induced immune responses lead to decreased lung viral loads by greater than 90 % along with improved clinical score. These findings suggest that PlaCCine DNA vaccines are effective and stable and further development against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jessica Kim
- Imunon Inc., Lawrenceville, NJ, United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Daishui Su
- Imunon Inc., Lawrenceville, NJ, United States
| | - Jeff Sparks
- Imunon Inc., Lawrenceville, NJ, United States
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Ponomarev AV, Shubina IZ, Sokolova ZA, Baryshnikova MA, Kosorukov VS. Transplantable Murine Tumors in the Studies of Peptide Antitumor Vaccines. Oncol Rev 2024; 17:12189. [PMID: 38260723 PMCID: PMC10800450 DOI: 10.3389/or.2023.12189] [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: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies have shown that antitumor vaccines based on synthetic peptides are safe and can induce both CD8+ and CD4+ tumor-specific T cell responses. However, clinical results are still scarce, and such approach to antitumor treatment has not gained a wide implication, yet. Recently, particular advances have been achieved due to tumor sequencing and the search for immunogenic neoantigens caused by mutations. One of the most important issues for peptide vaccines, along with the choice of optimal adjuvants and vaccination regimens, is the search for effective target antigens. Extensive studies of peptide vaccines, including those on murine models, are required to reveal the effective vaccine constructs. The review presents transplantable murine tumors with the detected peptides that showed antitumor efficacy as a vaccine compound.
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Gurunathan S, Thangaraj P, Wang L, Cao Q, Kim JH. Nanovaccines: An effective therapeutic approach for cancer therapy. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 170:115992. [PMID: 38070247 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer vaccines hold considerable promise for the immunotherapy of solid tumors. Nanomedicine offers several strategies for enhancing vaccine effectiveness. In particular, molecular or (sub) cellular vaccines can be delivered to the target lymphoid tissues and cells by nanocarriers and nanoplatforms to increase the potency and durability of antitumor immunity and minimize negative side effects. Nanovaccines use nanoparticles (NPs) as carriers and/or adjuvants, offering the advantages of optimal nanoscale size, high stability, ample antigen loading, high immunogenicity, tunable antigen presentation, increased retention in lymph nodes, and immunity promotion. To induce antitumor immunity, cancer vaccines rely on tumor antigens, which are administered in the form of entire cells, peptides, nucleic acids, extracellular vesicles (EVs), or cell membrane-encapsulated NPs. Ideal cancer vaccines stimulate both humoral and cellular immunity while overcoming tumor-induced immune suppression. Herein, we review the key properties of nanovaccines for cancer immunotherapy and highlight the recent advances in their development based on the structure and composition of various (including synthetic and semi (biogenic) nanocarriers. Moreover, we discuss tumor cell-derived vaccines (including those based on whole-tumor-cell components, EVs, cell membrane-encapsulated NPs, and hybrid membrane-coated NPs), nanovaccine action mechanisms, and the challenges of immunocancer therapy and their translation to clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangiliyandi Gurunathan
- Department of Biotechnology, Rathinam College of Arts and Science, Eachanari, Coimbatore 641 021, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Pratheep Thangaraj
- Department of Biotechnology, Rathinam College of Arts and Science, Eachanari, Coimbatore 641 021, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Lin Wang
- Research and Development Department, Qingdao Haier Biotech Co., Ltd., Qingdao, China
| | - Qilong Cao
- Research and Development Department, Qingdao Haier Biotech Co., Ltd., Qingdao, China
| | - Jin-Hoi Kim
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea.
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10
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Perrinjaquet M, Richard Schlegel C. Personalized neoantigen cancer vaccines: An analysis of the clinical and commercial potential of ongoing development programs. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103773. [PMID: 37730103 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Neoantigen cancer vaccines harbor promise as next-generation immuno-oncology therapies, whereby cancer vaccines are tailored to the patient's tumor antigen and represent the future of personalized cancer therapy. While several biotech companies have ongoing development programs, little has been published about the true commercial potential of these innovative therapies and the challenges these products will face upon regulatory approval. In this paper, we provide an overview of neoantigen cancer vaccine development programs and discuss the commercial environment these therapies will face upon launch.
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11
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Han X, Gao Z, Cheng Y, Wu S, Chen J, Zhang W. A Therapeutic DNA Vaccine Targeting HPV16 E7 in Combination with Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Enhanced Tumor Regression and Cytotoxic Immune Responses. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15469. [PMID: 37895145 PMCID: PMC10607554 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Persistent infection of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) and the expression of E6 and E7 oncoproteins are the main causes of cervical cancer. Several prophylactic HPV vaccines are used in the clinic, but these vaccines have limited efficacy in patients already infected with HPV. Since HPV E7 is vital for tumor-specific immunity, developing a vaccine against HPV E7 is an attractive strategy for cervical cancer treatment. Here, we constructed an HPV16 E7 mutant that loses the ability to bind pRb while still eliciting a robust immune response. In order to build a therapeutic DNA vaccine, the E7 mutant was packaged in an adenovirus vector (Ad-E7) for efficient expression and enhanced immunogenicity of the vaccine. Our results showed that the Ad-E7 vaccine effectively inhibited tumor growth and increased the proportion of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-secreting CD8+ T cells in the spleen, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in a mouse cervical cancer model was achieved by injecting with HPV16-E6/E7-expressing TC-1 cells subcutaneously. Combining the Ad-E7 vaccine with the PD-1/PD-L1 antibody blockade significantly improved the control of TC-1 tumors. Combination therapy elicited stronger cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses, and IFN-γ secretion downregulated the proportion of Tregs and MDSCs significantly. The expressions of cancer-promoting factors, such as TNF-α, were also significantly down-regulated in the case of combination therapy. In addition, combination therapy inhibited the number of capillaries in tumor tissues and increased the thickness of the tumor capsule. Thus, Ad-E7 vaccination, in combination with an immune checkpoint blockade, may benefit patients with HPV16-associated cervical cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Weifang Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; (X.H.); (Z.G.); (Y.C.); (S.W.); (J.C.)
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12
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Viborg N, Pavlidis MA, Barrio-Calvo M, Friis S, Trolle T, Sørensen AB, Thygesen CB, Kofoed SV, Kleine-Kohlbrecher D, Hadrup SR, Rønø B. DNA based neoepitope vaccination induces tumor control in syngeneic mouse models. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:77. [PMID: 37244905 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00671-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent findings have positioned tumor mutation-derived neoepitopes as attractive targets for cancer immunotherapy. Cancer vaccines that deliver neoepitopes via various vaccine formulations have demonstrated promising preliminary results in patients and animal models. In the presented work, we assessed the ability of plasmid DNA to confer neoepitope immunogenicity and anti-tumor effect in two murine syngeneic cancer models. We demonstrated that neoepitope DNA vaccination led to anti-tumor immunity in the CT26 and B16F10 tumor models, with the long-lasting presence of neoepitope-specific T-cell responses in blood, spleen, and tumors after immunization. We further observed that engagement of both the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell compartments was essential to hamper tumor growth. Additionally, combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibition provided an additive effect, superior to either monotherapy. DNA vaccination offers a versatile platform that allows the encoding of multiple neoepitopes in a single formulation and is thus a feasible strategy for personalized immunotherapy via neoepitope vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Viborg
- Evaxion Biotech, Hørsholm, Denmark
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sine Reker Hadrup
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
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13
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D'Alessio F, Lione L, Salvatori E, Bucci F, Muzi A, Roscilli G, Compagnone M, Pinto E, Battistuzzi G, Conforti A, Aurisicchio L, Palombo F. Immunogenicity of COVID-eVax Delivered by Electroporation Is Moderately Impacted by Temperature and Molecular Isoforms. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11030678. [PMID: 36992261 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11030678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA integrity is a key issue in gene therapy and genetic vaccine approaches based on plasmid DNA. In contrast to messenger RNA that requires a controlled cold chain for efficacy, DNA molecules are considered to be more stable. In this study, we challenged this concept by characterizing the immunological response induced by a plasmid DNA vaccine delivered using electroporation. As a model, we used COVID-eVax, a plasmid DNA-based vaccine that targets the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Increased nicked DNA was produced by using either an accelerated stability protocol or a lyophilization protocol. Surprisingly, the immune response induced in vivo was only minimally affected by the percentage of open circular DNA. This result suggests that plasmid DNA vaccines, such as COVID-eVax that have recently completed a phase I clinical trial, retain their efficacy upon storage at higher temperatures, and this feature may facilitate their use in low-/middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Luigi Aurisicchio
- Takis, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Neomatrix, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Evvivax, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Palombo
- Takis, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Neomatrix, 00128 Rome, Italy
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14
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Alanine-based spacers promote an efficient antigen processing and presentation in neoantigen polypeptide vaccines. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023:10.1007/s00262-023-03409-3. [PMID: 36820900 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03409-3] [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: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Neoantigens are tumor-specific antigens that are mostly particular for each patient. Since the immune system is able to mount a specific immune response against these neoantigens, they are a promising tool for the development of therapeutic personalized cancer vaccines. Neoantigens must be presented to T cells by antigen presenting cells (APC) in the context of MHC-I or MHC-II molecules. Therefore, the strategy of vaccine delivery may have a major impact on the magnitude and quality of T cell responses. Neoantigen-based vaccines are frequently administered as a pool of individual synthetic peptides that induce mainly CD4+ T cell responses. MHC-I-mediated presentation and the elicitation of CD8+ T cell responses may be improved using DNA or RNA sequences that code for a unique long polypeptide that concatenates the different neoantigens spaced by linker sequences. When administered this way, the selection of the spacer between neoantigens is of special interest, as it might influence the processing and presentation of the right peptides by APCs. Here, we evaluate the impact of such linker regions on the MHC-I-dependent antigen presentation using an in vitro assay that assesses the MHC-I presentation of SIINFEKL, a H-2 Kb-restricted OVA peptide. Our results show that spacers used to generate epitope concatenates have a large impact on the efficiency of neoantigen processing and presentation by MHC-I molecules; in contrast, the peptide position and the flanking regions have a minimal impact. Moreover, linkers based on alanine residues promote a more efficient peptide presentation than the commonly used GGGS linker.
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15
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Chen Z, Zhang B, Guo H, Emani P, Clancy T, Jiang C, Gerstein M, Ning X, Cheng C, Min MR. Binding peptide generation for MHC Class I proteins with deep reinforcement learning. Bioinformatics 2023; 39:7000336. [PMID: 36692135 PMCID: PMC9907221 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btad055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION MHC Class I protein plays an important role in immunotherapy by presenting immunogenic peptides to anti-tumor immune cells. The repertoires of peptides for various MHC Class I proteins are distinct, which can be reflected by their diverse binding motifs. To characterize binding motifs for MHC Class I proteins, in vitro experiments have been conducted to screen peptides with high binding affinities to hundreds of given MHC Class I proteins. However, considering tens of thousands of known MHC Class I proteins, conducting in vitro experiments for extensive MHC proteins is infeasible, and thus a more efficient and scalable way to characterize binding motifs is needed. RESULTS We presented a de novo generation framework, coined PepPPO, to characterize binding motif for any given MHC Class I proteins via generating repertoires of peptides presented by them. PepPPO leverages a reinforcement learning agent with a mutation policy to mutate random input peptides into positive presented ones. Using PepPPO, we characterized binding motifs for around 10 000 known human MHC Class I proteins with and without experimental data. These computed motifs demonstrated high similarities with those derived from experimental data. In addition, we found that the motifs could be used for the rapid screening of neoantigens at a much lower time cost than previous deep-learning methods. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION The software can be found in https://github.com/minrq/pMHC. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqi Chen
- Machine Learning Department, NEC Labs America, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA.,Computer Science and Engineering Department, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Baoyi Zhang
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Hongyu Guo
- Digital Technologies Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada.,School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Prashant Emani
- School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Trevor Clancy
- NEC OncoImmunity AS, Oslo Cancer Cluster, Oslo 0379, Norway
| | - Chongming Jiang
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 06520, USA
| | - Mark Gerstein
- School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Xia Ning
- Computer Science and Engineering Department, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Chao Cheng
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 06520, USA
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16
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Neoantigens: promising targets for cancer therapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:9. [PMID: 36604431 PMCID: PMC9816309 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01270-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 115.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in neoantigen research have accelerated the development and regulatory approval of tumor immunotherapies, including cancer vaccines, adoptive cell therapy and antibody-based therapies, especially for solid tumors. Neoantigens are newly formed antigens generated by tumor cells as a result of various tumor-specific alterations, such as genomic mutation, dysregulated RNA splicing, disordered post-translational modification, and integrated viral open reading frames. Neoantigens are recognized as non-self and trigger an immune response that is not subject to central and peripheral tolerance. The quick identification and prediction of tumor-specific neoantigens have been made possible by the advanced development of next-generation sequencing and bioinformatic technologies. Compared to tumor-associated antigens, the highly immunogenic and tumor-specific neoantigens provide emerging targets for personalized cancer immunotherapies, and serve as prospective predictors for tumor survival prognosis and immune checkpoint blockade responses. The development of cancer therapies will be aided by understanding the mechanism underlying neoantigen-induced anti-tumor immune response and by streamlining the process of neoantigen-based immunotherapies. This review provides an overview on the identification and characterization of neoantigens and outlines the clinical applications of prospective immunotherapeutic strategies based on neoantigens. We also explore their current status, inherent challenges, and clinical translation potential.
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17
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Liu X, Yang Y, Zheng X, Liu M, Wang G. Enhancedanti-tumor efficacy through a combination of intramuscularly expressed DNA vaccine and plasmid-encoded PD-1 antibody. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1169850. [PMID: 37138873 PMCID: PMC10150030 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1169850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune check inhibitors (ICIs) have moderate response rates (~20%-30%) in some malignancies clinically, and, when used in combination with other immunotherapeutic strategies such as DNA tumor vaccines, there is evidence to suggest that they could optimize the efficacy of cancer treatment. In this study, we validated that intramuscular injection of plasmid DNA (pDNA) encoding OVA combined with pDNA encoding α-PD-1 (abbreviated as α-PD-1 in the following treatment groups) may enhance therapeutic efficacy by means of in situ gene delivery and enhanced muscle-specific potent promoter. Mice treated with pDNA-OVA or pDNA-α-PD-1 alone showed weak tumor inhibition in the MC38-OVA-bearing model. In comparison, the combined treatment of pDNA-OVA and pDNA-α-PD-1 resulted in superior tumor growth inhibition and a significantly improved survival rate of over 60% on day 45. In the B16-F10-OVA metastasis model, the addition of the DNA vaccine enhanced resistance to tumor metastasis and increased the populations of CD8+ T cells in blood and spleen. In conclusion, the current research shows that a combination of pDNA-encoded PD-1 antibody and DNA vaccine expressed in vivo is an efficient, safe, and economical strategy for tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Liu
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yueyao Yang
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiufeng Zheng
- Department of Medical Oncology/Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ming Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology/Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- *Correspondence: Gang Wang, ; Ming Liu,
| | - Gang Wang
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- *Correspondence: Gang Wang, ; Ming Liu,
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18
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Vishweshwaraiah YL, Dokholyan NV. mRNA vaccines for cancer immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1029069. [PMID: 36591226 PMCID: PMC9794995 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1029069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has emerged as a breakthrough strategy in cancer treatment. mRNA vaccines are an attractive and powerful immunotherapeutic platform against cancer because of their high potency, specificity, versatility, rapid and large-scale development capability, low-cost manufacturing potential, and safety. Recent technological advances in mRNA vaccine design and delivery have accelerated mRNA cancer vaccines' development and clinical application. In this review, we present various cancer vaccine platforms with a focus on nucleic acid vaccines. We discuss rational design and optimization strategies for mRNA cancer vaccine development. We highlight the platforms available for delivery of the mRNA vaccines with a focus on lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) based delivery systems. Finally, we discuss the limitations of mRNA cancer vaccines and future challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nikolay V. Dokholyan
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
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19
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Shi W, Chen S, Chi F, Qiu Q, Zhong Y, Bian X, Zhang H, Xi J, Qian H. Advances in Tumor Antigen‐Based Anticancer Immunotherapy: Recent Progress, Prevailing Challenges, and Future Perspective. ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/adtp.202200239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Shi
- Center of Drug Discovery State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines China Pharmaceutical University 24 Tongjiaxiang Nanjing 210009 P. R. China
| | - Shuang Chen
- Center of Drug Discovery State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines China Pharmaceutical University 24 Tongjiaxiang Nanjing 210009 P. R. China
| | - Fanglian Chi
- Center of Drug Discovery State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines China Pharmaceutical University 24 Tongjiaxiang Nanjing 210009 P. R. China
| | - Qianqian Qiu
- Center of Drug Discovery State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines China Pharmaceutical University 24 Tongjiaxiang Nanjing 210009 P. R. China
| | - Yue Zhong
- Center of Drug Discovery State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines China Pharmaceutical University 24 Tongjiaxiang Nanjing 210009 P. R. China
| | - Xiaojian Bian
- Center of Drug Discovery State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines China Pharmaceutical University 24 Tongjiaxiang Nanjing 210009 P. R. China
| | - Hao Zhang
- School of Science China Pharmaceutical University 24 Tongjiaxiang Nanjing 210009 P. R. China
| | - Junting Xi
- School of Science China Pharmaceutical University 24 Tongjiaxiang Nanjing 210009 P. R. China
| | - Hai Qian
- Center of Drug Discovery State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines China Pharmaceutical University 24 Tongjiaxiang Nanjing 210009 P. R. China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease China Pharmaceutical University 24 Tongjiaxiang Nanjing 210009 P. R. China
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20
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Neoantigen discovery and applications in glioblastoma: An immunotherapy perspective. Cancer Lett 2022; 550:215945. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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21
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Recent Advances in Cancer Vaccines: Challenges, Achievements, and Futuristic Prospects. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10122011. [PMID: 36560420 PMCID: PMC9788126 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10122011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a chronic disease, and it can be lethal due to limited therapeutic options. The conventional treatment options for cancer have numerous challenges, such as a low blood circulation time as well as poor solubility of anticancer drugs. Therapeutic cancer vaccines emerged to try to improve anticancer drugs' efficiency and to deliver them to the target site. Cancer vaccines are considered a viable therapeutic technique for most solid tumors. Vaccines boost antitumor immunity by delivering tumor antigens, nucleic acids, entire cells, and peptides. Cancer vaccines are designed to induce long-term antitumor memory, causing tumor regression, eradicate minimal residual illness, and prevent non-specific or unpleasant effects. These vaccines can assist in the elimination of cancer cells from various organs or organ systems in the body, with minimal risk of tumor recurrence or metastasis. Vaccines and antigens for anticancer therapy are discussed in this review, including current vaccine adjuvants and mechanisms of action for various types of vaccines, such as DNA- or mRNA-based cancer vaccines. Potential applications of these vaccines focusing on their clinical use for better therapeutic efficacy are also discussed along with the latest research available in this field.
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22
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Velaga R, Koo KM, Mainwaring PN. Harnessing gene fusion-derived neoantigens for 'cold' breast and prostate tumor immunotherapy. Immunotherapy 2022; 14:1165-1179. [PMID: 36043380 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2022-0081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast and prostate cancers are generally considered immunologically 'cold' tumors due to multiple mechanisms rendering them unresponsive to immune checkpoint blockade therapies. With little success in garnering positive outcomes in modern immunotherapeutic clinical trials, it is prudent to re-examine the role of immunogenic neoantigens in these cold tumors. Gene fusions are driver mutations in hormone-driven cancers that can result in alternative mutation-specific neoantigens to promote immunotherapy sensitivity. This review focuses on 1) gene fusion formation mechanisms in neoantigen generation; 2) gene fusion neoantigens in cancer immunotherapeutic strategies and associated clinical trials; and 3) challenges and opportunities in computational and liquid biopsy technologies. This review is anticipated to initiate further research into gene fusion neoantigens of cold tumors for further experimental validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Velaga
- Breast Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Kevin M Koo
- XING Technologies Pty Ltd, Brisbane, QLD 4073, Australia.,The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR), Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia
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23
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Neoantigens in precision cancer immunotherapy: from identification to clinical applications. Chin Med J (Engl) 2022; 135:1285-1298. [PMID: 35838545 PMCID: PMC9433083 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000002181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies targeting cancer neoantigens are safe, effective, and precise. Neoantigens can be identified mainly by genomic techniques such as next-generation sequencing and high-throughput single-cell sequencing; proteomic techniques such as mass spectrometry; and bioinformatics tools based on high-throughput sequencing data, mass spectrometry data, and biological databases. Neoantigen-related therapies are widely used in clinical practice and include neoantigen vaccines, neoantigen-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, and neoantigen-pulsed dendritic cells. In addition, neoantigens can be used as biomarkers to assess immunotherapy response, resistance, and prognosis. Therapies based on neoantigens are an important and promising branch of cancer immunotherapy. Unremitting efforts are needed to unravel the comprehensive role of neoantigens in anti-tumor immunity and to extend their clinical application. This review aimed to summarize the progress in neoantigen research and to discuss its opportunities and challenges in precision cancer immunotherapy.
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24
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Conforti A, Salvatori E, Lione L, Compagnone M, Pinto E, Shorrock C, Hayward JA, Sun Y, Liang BM, Palombo F, Viscount B, Aurisicchio L. Linear DNA amplicons as a novel cancer vaccine strategy. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2022; 41:195. [PMID: 35668533 PMCID: PMC9169303 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02402-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND DNA-based vaccines represent a simple, safe and promising strategy for harnessing the immune system to fight infectious diseases as well as various forms of cancer and thus are considered an important tool in the cancer immunotherapy toolbox. Nonetheless, the manufacture of plasmid DNA vaccines has several drawbacks, including long lead times and the need to remove impurities from bacterial cultures. Here we report the development of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-produced amplicon expression vectors as DNA vaccines and their in vivo application to elicit antigen-specific immune responses in animal cancer models. METHODS Plasmid DNA and amplicon expression was assessed both in vitro, by Hela cells transfection, and in vivo, by evaluating luciferase expression in wild-type mice through optical imaging. Immunogenicity induced by DNA amplicons was assessed by vaccinating wild-type mice against a tumor-associated antigen, whereas the antitumoral effect of DNA amplicons was evaluated in a murine cancer model in combination with immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). RESULTS Amplicons encoding tumor-associated-antigens, such as telomerase reverse transcriptase or neoantigens expressed by murine tumor cell lines, were able to elicit antigen-specific immune responses and proved to significantly impact tumor growth when administered in combination with ICIs. CONCLUSIONS These results strongly support the further exploration of the use of PCR-based amplicons as an innovative immunotherapeutic approach to cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Conforti
- Takis, Via Castel Romano 100, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Evvivax, Via Castel Romano 100, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Lucia Lione
- Takis, Via Castel Romano 100, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Clay Shorrock
- Applied DNA Sciences, 50 Health Sciences Drive, Stony Brook, NY 11790 USA
| | - James A. Hayward
- Applied DNA Sciences, 50 Health Sciences Drive, Stony Brook, NY 11790 USA
| | - Yuhua Sun
- Applied DNA Sciences, 50 Health Sciences Drive, Stony Brook, NY 11790 USA
| | - Ben Minghwa Liang
- Applied DNA Sciences, 50 Health Sciences Drive, Stony Brook, NY 11790 USA
| | - Fabio Palombo
- Takis, Via Castel Romano 100, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Neomatrix, Via Castel Romano 100, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Brian Viscount
- Applied DNA Sciences, 50 Health Sciences Drive, Stony Brook, NY 11790 USA
| | - Luigi Aurisicchio
- Takis, Via Castel Romano 100, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Evvivax, Via Castel Romano 100, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Neomatrix, Via Castel Romano 100, 00128 Rome, Italy
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25
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Development of Cancer Immunotherapies. Cancer Treat Res 2022; 183:1-48. [PMID: 35551655 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-96376-7_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy, or the utilization of components of the immune system to target and eliminate cancer, has become a highly active area of research in the past several decades and a common treatment strategy for several cancer types. The concept of harnessing the immune system for this purpose originated over 100 years ago when a physician by the name of William Coley successfully treated several of his cancer patients with a combination of live and attenuated bacteria, later known as "Coley's Toxins", after observing a subset of prior patients enter remission following their diagnosis with the common bacterial infection, erysipelas. However, it was not until late in the twentieth century that cancer immunotherapies were developed for widespread use, thereby transforming the treatment landscape of numerous cancer types. Pivotal studies elucidating molecular and cellular functions of immune cells, such as the discovery of IL-2 and production of monoclonal antibodies, fostered the development of novel techniques for studying the immune system and ultimately the development and approval of several cancer immunotherapies by the United States Food and Drug Association in the 1980s and 1990s, including the tuberculosis vaccine-Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, IL-2, and the CD20-targeting monoclonal antibody. Approval of the first therapeutic cancer vaccine, Sipuleucel-T, for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and the groundbreaking success and approval of immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy in the last decade, have driven an explosion of interest in and pursuit of novel cancer immunotherapy strategies. A broad range of modalities ranging from antibodies to adoptive T cell therapies is under investigation for the generalized treatment of a broad spectrum of cancers as well as personalized medicine. This chapter will focus on the recent advances, current strategies, and future outlook of immunotherapy development for the treatment of cancer.
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26
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Lang F, Schrörs B, Löwer M, Türeci Ö, Sahin U. Identification of neoantigens for individualized therapeutic cancer vaccines. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2022; 21:261-282. [PMID: 35105974 PMCID: PMC7612664 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-021-00387-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 75.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Somatic mutations in cancer cells can generate tumour-specific neoepitopes, which are recognized by autologous T cells in the host. As neoepitopes are not subject to central immune tolerance and are not expressed in healthy tissues, they are attractive targets for therapeutic cancer vaccines. Because the vast majority of cancer mutations are unique to the individual patient, harnessing the full potential of this rich source of targets requires individualized treatment approaches. Many computational algorithms and machine-learning tools have been developed to identify mutations in sequence data, to prioritize those that are more likely to be recognized by T cells and to design tailored vaccines for every patient. In this Review, we fill the gaps between the understanding of basic mechanisms of T cell recognition of neoantigens and the computational approaches for discovery of somatic mutations and neoantigen prediction for cancer immunotherapy. We present a new classification of neoantigens, distinguishing between guarding, restrained and ignored neoantigens, based on how they confer proficient antitumour immunity in a given clinical context. Such context-based differentiation will contribute to a framework that connects neoantigen biology to the clinical setting and medical peculiarities of cancer, and will enable future neoantigen-based therapies to provide greater clinical benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Lang
- TRON Translational Oncology, Mainz, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Ugur Sahin
- BioNTech, Mainz, Germany.
- University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
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27
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Arakelian T, Oosterhuis K, Tondini E, Los M, Vree J, van Geldorp M, Camps M, Teunisse B, Zoutendijk I, Arens R, Zondag G, Ossendorp F, van Bergen J. Pyroptosis-inducing active caspase-1 as a genetic adjuvant in anti-cancer DNA vaccination. Vaccine 2022; 40:2087-2098. [PMID: 35177300 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Pyroptosis is a recently discovered form of inflammatory programmed necrosis characterized by caspase-1-mediated and gasdermin D-dependent cell death leading to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β). Here, we evaluated whether pyroptosis could be exploited in DNA vaccination by incorporating a constitutively active variant of caspase-1 to the antigen-expressing DNA. In vitro, transfection with constitutively active caspase-1 DNA induced pro-IL-1β maturation and IL-1β release as well as gasdermin D-dependent cell death. To test active caspase-1 as a genetic adjuvant for the induction of antigen-specific T cell responses, mice were vaccinated intradermally with a DNA vaccine consisting of the active caspase-1 plasmid together with a plasmid encoding an ovalbumin-derived CD8 T cell epitope. Active caspase-1 accelerated and amplified antigen-specific CD8 T cell responses when administered simultaneously with the DNA vaccine at an equimolar dose. Moreover, upon challenge with melanoma cells expressing ovalbumin, mice vaccinated with the antigen vaccine adjuvanted with active caspase-1 showed significantly better survival compared to the non-adjuvanted group. In conclusion, we have developed a novel genetic adjuvant that for the first time employs the pyroptosis pathway to improve DNA vaccination against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsolere Arakelian
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Koen Oosterhuis
- Immunetune BV, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Elena Tondini
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Mandy Los
- Immunetune BV, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jana Vree
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Mariska van Geldorp
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Marcel Camps
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Ramon Arens
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Gerben Zondag
- Immunetune BV, Leiden, the Netherlands; Synvolux Therapeutics BV, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Ferry Ossendorp
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Jeroen van Bergen
- Immunetune BV, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
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Liu J, Fu M, Wang M, Wan D, Wei Y, Wei X. Cancer vaccines as promising immuno-therapeutics: platforms and current progress. J Hematol Oncol 2022; 15:28. [PMID: 35303904 PMCID: PMC8931585 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-022-01247-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 195] [Impact Index Per Article: 97.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Research on tumor immunotherapy has made tremendous progress in the past decades, with numerous studies entering the clinical evaluation. The cancer vaccine is considered a promising therapeutic strategy in the immunotherapy of solid tumors. Cancer vaccine stimulates anti-tumor immunity with tumor antigens, which could be delivered in the form of whole cells, peptides, nucleic acids, etc. Ideal cancer vaccines could overcome the immune suppression in tumors and induce both humoral immunity and cellular immunity. In this review, we introduced the working mechanism of cancer vaccines and summarized four platforms for cancer vaccine development. We also highlighted the clinical research progress of the cancer vaccines, especially focusing on their clinical application and therapeutic efficacy, which might hopefully facilitate the future design of the cancer vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Liu
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 17, Block 3, Southern Renmin Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Minyang Fu
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 17, Block 3, Southern Renmin Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Manni Wang
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 17, Block 3, Southern Renmin Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Dandan Wan
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 17, Block 3, Southern Renmin Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuquan Wei
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 17, Block 3, Southern Renmin Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiawei Wei
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 17, Block 3, Southern Renmin Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
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Okada M, Shimizu K, Fujii SI. Identification of Neoantigens in Cancer Cells as Targets for Immunotherapy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052594. [PMID: 35269735 PMCID: PMC8910406 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The clinical benefits of immune checkpoint blockage (ICB) therapy have been widely reported. In patients with cancer, researchers have demonstrated the clinical potential of antitumor cytotoxic T cells that can be reinvigorated or enhanced by ICB. Compared to self-antigens, neoantigens derived from tumor somatic mutations are believed to be ideal immune targets in tumors. Candidate tumor neoantigens can be identified through immunogenomic or immunopeptidomic approaches. Identification of neoantigens has revealed several points of the clinical relevance. For instance, tumor mutation burden (TMB) may be an indicator of immunotherapy. In various cancers, mutation rates accompanying neoantigen loads may be indicative of immunotherapy. Furthermore, mismatch repair-deficient tumors can be eradicated by T cells in ICB treatment. Hence, immunotherapies using vaccines or adoptive T-cell transfer targeting neoantigens are potential innovative strategies. However, significant efforts are required to identify the optimal epitopes. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in the identification of neoantigens and discussed preclinical and clinical studies based on neoantigens. We also discuss the issues remaining to be addressed before clinical applications of these new therapeutic strategies can be materialized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Okada
- Laboratory for Immunotherapy, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; (M.O.); (K.S.)
| | - Kanako Shimizu
- Laboratory for Immunotherapy, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; (M.O.); (K.S.)
| | - Shin-ichiro Fujii
- Laboratory for Immunotherapy, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; (M.O.); (K.S.)
- Program for Drug Discovery and Medical Technology Platforms, RIKEN, 1-7-22, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-45-503-7062
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30
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Fang X, Guo Z, Liang J, Wen J, Liu Y, Guan X, Li H. Neoantigens and their potential applications in tumor immunotherapy. Oncol Lett 2022; 23:88. [PMID: 35126730 PMCID: PMC8805178 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2022.13208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of malignant tumors is increasing, the majority of which are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. The traditional treatment method for malignant tumors is surgery, coupled with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. However, these therapeutic strategies are frequently accompanied with adverse side effects. Over recent decades, tumor immunotherapy shown promise in demonstrating notable efficacy for the treatment of cancer. With the development of sequencing technology and bioinformatics algorithms, neoantigens have become compelling targets for cancer immunotherapy due to high levels of immunogenicity. In addition, neoantigen-based vaccines have demonstrated potential for cancer therapy, primarily by augmenting T-cell responses. Neoantigens have also been shown to be effective in immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Therefore, neoantigens may serve to be predictive biomarkers and synergistic treatment targets in cancer immunotherapy. The aim of the present review was to provide an overview of the recent progress in the classification, screening and clinical application of neoantigens for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianzhu Fang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261053, P.R. China
| | - Zhiliang Guo
- Department of Orthopedic, The 80th Group Army Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Weifang, Shandong 261021, P.R. China
| | - Jinqing Liang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261053, P.R. China
| | - Jiao Wen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261053, P.R. China
| | - Yuanyuan Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261053, P.R. China
| | - Xiumei Guan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261053, P.R. China
| | - Hong Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261053, P.R. China
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Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) based on anti-CTLA-4 (αCTLA-4) and anti-PD1 (αPD1) are being tested in combination with different therapeutic approaches including other immunotherapies such as neoantigen cancer vaccines (NCV). Here we explored, in two cancer murine models, different therapeutic combinations of ICI with personalized DNA vaccines expressing neoantigens and delivered by electroporation (EP). Anti-cancer efficacy was evaluated using vaccines with or without CD4 epitopes. Therapeutic DNA vaccines showed synergistic effects in different therapeutic protocols including established large tumors. Flow cytometry (FC) was utilized to measure CD8, CD4, Treg, and switched B cells as well as neoantigen-specific immune responses, which were also measured by IFN-γ ELIspot. Immune responses were augmented in combination with αCTLA4 but not with αPD1 in the MC38 tumor-bearing mice, significantly impacting tumor growth. Similarly, neoantigen-specific T cell immune responses were enhanced in combined treatment with αCTLA-4 in the CT26 tumor model where large tumors regressed in all mice, while monotherapy with αCTLA-4 was less efficacious. In line with previous evidence, we observed an increased switched B cells in the spleen of mice treated with αCTLA-4 alone or in combination with NCV. These results support the use of NCV delivered by DNA-EP with αCTLA-4 and suggest a new combined therapy for clinical testing.
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Neoantigen Cancer Vaccines: Generation, Optimization, and Therapeutic Targeting Strategies. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10020196. [PMID: 35214655 PMCID: PMC8877108 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10020196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternatives to conventional cancer treatments are highly sought after for high-risk malignancies that have a poor response to established treatment modalities. With research advancing rapidly in the past decade, neoantigen-based immunotherapeutic approaches represent an effective and highly tolerable therapeutic option. Neoantigens are tumor-specific antigens that are not expressed in normal cells and possess significant immunogenic potential. Several recent studies have described the conceptual framework and methodologies to generate neoantigen-based vaccines as well as the formulation of appropriate clinical trials to advance this approach for patient care. This review aims to describe some of the key studies in the recent literature in this rapidly evolving field and summarize the current advances in neoantigen identification and selection, vaccine generation and delivery, and the optimization of neoantigen-based therapeutic strategies, including the early data from pivotal clinical studies.
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Roesler AS, Anderson KS. Beyond Sequencing: Prioritizing and Delivering Neoantigens for Cancer Vaccines. METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (CLIFTON, N.J.) 2022; 2410:649-670. [PMID: 34914074 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1884-4_35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Neoantigens are tumor-specific proteins and peptides that can be highly immunogenic. Immune-mediated tumor rejection is strongly associated with cytotoxic responses to neoantigen-derived peptides in noncovalent association with self-HLA molecules. Neoantigen-based therapies, such as adoptive T cell transfer, have shown the potential to induce remission of treatment-resistant metastatic disease in select patients. Cancer vaccines are similarly designed to elicit or amplify antigen-specific T cell populations and stimulate directed antitumor immunity, but the selection and prioritization of the neoantigens remains a challenge. Bioinformatic algorithms can predict tumor neoantigens from somatic mutations, insertion-deletions, and other aberrant peptide products, but this often leads to hundreds of potential neoepitopes, all unique for that tumor. Selecting neoantigens for cancer vaccines is complicated by the technical challenges of neoepitope discovery, the diversity of HLA molecules, and intratumoral heterogeneity of passenger mutations leading to immune escape. Despite strong preclinical evidence, few neoantigen cancer vaccines tested in vivo have generated epitope-specific T cell populations, suggesting suboptimal immune system activation. In this chapter, we review factors affecting the prioritization and delivery of candidate neoantigens in the design of therapeutic and preventive cancer vaccines and consider synergism with standard chemotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander S Roesler
- School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | - Karen S Anderson
- Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA.
- Center for Personalized Diagnostics, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
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Craig DJ, Bailey MM, Noe OB, Williams KK, Stanbery L, Hamouda DM, Nemunaitis JJ. Subclonal landscape of cancer drives resistance to immune therapy. Cancer Treat Res Commun 2022; 30:100507. [PMID: 35007928 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctarc.2021.100507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Tumor mutation burden (TMB) is often used as a biomarker for immunogenicity and prerequisite for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that not all tumors with high TMB respond to ICIs as expected. It has been shown that the ability of T-cells to infiltrate the tumor microenvironment and elicit a specific immune response is dependent not only on the TMB, but also on intra-tumor heterogeneity and the fraction of low-frequency subclonal mutations that make up the tumor. High intra-tumor heterogeneity leads to inefficient recognition of tumor neoantigens by T-cells due to their diluted frequency and spatial heterogeneity. Clinical studies have shown that tumors with a high degree of intra-tumor heterogeneity respond poorly to ICI therapy, and previous cytotoxic treatment may increase the intra-tumor heterogeneity and render second-line ICI therapy less effective. This paper reviews the role of ICI therapy when following chemotherapy or radiation to determine if they may be better suited as first-line therapy in patients with high TMB, low intra-tumor heterogeneity, and high PD-1, PD-L1, or CTLA-4 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Craig
- University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | | | - Olivia B Noe
- University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
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35
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Liu C, Cong X, Wang Y, Guo Q, Xie Y, Geng F, Guo J, Dong L, Zhou Y, Wu H, Yu B, Wu J, Zhang H, Yu X, Kong W. Fast DNA Vaccination Strategy Elicits a Stronger Immune Response Dependent on CD8 +CD11c + Cell Accumulation. Front Oncol 2021; 11:752444. [PMID: 34950581 PMCID: PMC8691261 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.752444] [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: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventional DNA vaccine strategies usually employ a regimen of immunizations at 2-week or longer intervals to induce effective memory cell-dependent immune responses. Clinical cancer treatment requires a faster immunization strategy to contend with tumor progression. In this study, a novel fast immunization strategy was established, wherein a DNA vaccine was intramuscularly administered on days 0, 2, and 5 in a murine lung cancer model. Effector cells peaked 7 to 10 days after the last vaccination. Compared with traditional 2-week-interval immunization strategies, antigen-specific cytolysis and INF-γ secretion were significantly enhanced under the fast vaccination approach. As a result, the rapidly administered DNA vaccine elicited stronger and more prompt antitumor effects. The probable underlying mechanism of fast immunization was the accumulation of CD8+CD11c+ antigen-presenting cells at the injection site, which enhanced subsequent antigen presentation. In conclusion, the fast DNA vaccination strategy shortened vaccination time to 5 days and elicited a stronger antitumor immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenlu Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Biobank, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xianling Cong
- Biobank, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yuqian Wang
- Biobank, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Qianqian Guo
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yu Xie
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Fei Geng
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jie Guo
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ling Dong
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yi Zhou
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hui Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Bin Yu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jiaxin Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Haihong Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xianghui Yu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wei Kong
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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36
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Ye T, Li F, Ma G, Wei W. Enhancing therapeutic performance of personalized cancer vaccine via delivery vectors. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 177:113927. [PMID: 34403752 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.113927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, personalized cancer vaccines have gained increasing attention as emerging immunotherapies with the capability to overcome interindividual differences and show great benefits for individual patients in the clinic due to the highly tailored vaccine formulations. A large number of materials have been studied as delivery vectors to enhance the therapeutic performance of personalized cancer vaccines, including artificial materials, engineered microorganisms, cells and cell derivatives. These delivery vectors with distinct features are employed to change antigen biodistributions and to facilitate antigen uptake, processing and presentation, improving the strength, velocity, and duration of the immune response when delivered by different strategies. Here, we provide an overview of personalized cancer vaccine delivery vectors, describing their materials, physicochemical properties, delivery strategies and challenges for clinical transformation.
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Chiang CLL, Rovelli R, Sarivalasis A, Kandalaft LE. Integrating Cancer Vaccines in the Standard-of-Care of Ovarian Cancer: Translating Preclinical Models to Human. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13184553. [PMID: 34572778 PMCID: PMC8469371 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13184553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The overall survival of ovarian cancer (OC) remains poor for most patients. Despite incorporation of novel therapeutic agents such as bevacizumab and PARP inhibitors to OC standard-of-care, efficacy is only observed in a subset of patients. Cancer vaccination has demonstrated effectiveness in OC patients and could be considered for potential incorporation into OC standard-of-care. This review provides an overview of the different types of cancer vaccination strategies and discusses the use of murine OC tumor models to evaluate combinatorial regimens comprising cancer vaccines and OC standard-of-care. Abstract As the majority of ovarian cancer (OC) patients are diagnosed with metastatic disease, less than 40% will survive past 5 years after diagnosis. OC is characterized by a succession of remissions and recurrences. The most promising time point for immunotherapeutic interventions in OC is following debulking surgery. Accumulating evidence shows that T cells are important in OC; thus, cancer vaccines capable of eliciting antitumor T cells will be effective in OC treatment. In this review, we discuss different cancer vaccines and propose strategies for their incorporation into the OC standard-of-care regimens. Using the murine ID8 ovarian tumor model, we provide evidence that a cancer vaccine can be effectively combined with OC standard-of-care to achieve greater overall efficacy. We demonstrate several important similarities between the ID8 model and OC patients, in terms of response to immunotherapies, and the ID8 model can be an important tool for evaluating combinatorial regimens and clinical trial designs in OC. Other emerging models, including patient-derived xenograft and genetically engineered mouse models, are continuing to improve and can be useful for evaluating cancer vaccination therapies in the near future. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the completed and current clinical trials evaluating cancer vaccines in OC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl Lai-Lai Chiang
- Department of Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; (R.R.); (A.S.)
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, CH-1066 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Correspondence: (C.L.-L.C.); (L.E.K.)
| | - Raphaël Rovelli
- Department of Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; (R.R.); (A.S.)
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, CH-1066 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Apostolos Sarivalasis
- Department of Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; (R.R.); (A.S.)
| | - Lana E. Kandalaft
- Department of Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; (R.R.); (A.S.)
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, CH-1066 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Correspondence: (C.L.-L.C.); (L.E.K.)
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38
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Polla Ravi S, Shamiya Y, Chakraborty A, Elias C, Paul A. Biomaterials, biological molecules, and polymers in developing vaccines. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2021; 42:813-828. [PMID: 34454774 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2021.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Vaccines have been used to train the immune system to recognize pathogens, and prevent and treat diseases, such as cancer, for decades. However, there are continuing challenges in their manufacturing, large-scale production, and storage. Some of them also show suboptimal immunogenicity, requiring additional adjuvants and booster doses. As an alternate vaccination strategy, a new class of biomimetic materials with unique functionalities has emerged in recent years. Here, we explore the current bioengineering techniques that make use of hydrogels, modified polymers, cell membranes, self-assembled proteins, virus-like particles (VLPs), and nucleic acids to deliver and develop biomaterial-based vaccines. We also review design principles and key regulatory issues associated with their development. Finally, we critically assess their limitations, explore approaches to overcome these limitations, and discuss potential future applications for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shruthi Polla Ravi
- School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B9, Canada
| | - Yasmeen Shamiya
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B9, Canada
| | - Aishik Chakraborty
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B9, Canada
| | - Cynthia Elias
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B9, Canada; Biologics Manufacturing Centre, The National Research Council of Canada, 6100 Royalmount Avenue, Montreal, QC, H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Arghya Paul
- School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B9, Canada; Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B9, Canada; Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B9, Canada.
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Combining Cancer Vaccines with Immunotherapy: Establishing a New Immunological Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22158035. [PMID: 34360800 PMCID: PMC8348347 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic cancer vaccines have become increasingly qualified for use in personalized cancer immunotherapy. A deeper understanding of tumor immunology and novel antigen delivery technologies has assisted in optimizing vaccine design. Therapeutic cancer vaccines aim to establish long-lasting immunological memory against tumor cells, thereby leading to effective tumor regression and minimizing non-specific or adverse events. However, due to several resistance mechanisms, significant challenges remain to be solved in order to achieve these goals. In this review, we describe our current understanding with respect to the use of the antigen repertoire in vaccine platform development. We also summarize various intrinsic and extrinsic resistance mechanisms behind the failure of cancer vaccine development in the past. Finally, we suggest a strategy that combines immune checkpoint inhibitors to enhance the efficacy of cancer vaccines.
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Synthetic multiepitope neoantigen DNA vaccine for personalized cancer immunotherapy. NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2021; 37:102443. [PMID: 34303839 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2021.102443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Neoantigen-based personalized vaccination has emerged as a viable method for tumor immunotherapy. Here we set up a DNA-based neoantigen vaccine platform with comprehensive identification of individual somatic mutations using whole-exome sequencing (WES) and RNA-seq, bioinformatic prediction of neo-epitopes, dendritic cell (DC)-based efficacy prevalidation of vaccine candidates, optimization of the DNA vaccine and its nanocarrier and adjuvant, and preparation of a liposome-encapsulated multiepitope DNA vaccine. The DNA vaccine was efficiently uptaken by DCs and induced effective immune response against mouse melanoma cells, leading to significant inhibition of melanoma tumor growth and reduction of lung metastasis in a mouse model. Numerous intratumoral infiltrated CD8+ T-cells with specific in vitro killing ability towards melanoma cells were identified. Our study offers evidence that a multiepitope neoantigen DNA vaccine in a nanocarrier can be exploited for personalized tumor immunotherapy and as a reliable prevalidation approach for rapid enrichment of effective neoantigens.
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Ebrahimi N, Akbari M, Ghanaatian M, Roozbahani Moghaddam P, Adelian S, Borjian Boroujeni M, Yazdani E, Ahmadi A, Hamblin MR. Development of neoantigens: from identification in cancer cells to application in cancer vaccines. Expert Rev Vaccines 2021; 21:941-955. [PMID: 34196590 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2021.1951246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: The discovery of neoantigens as mutated proteins specifically expressed in tumor cells but not in normal cells has led to improved cancer vaccines. Targeting neoantigens can induce anti-tumor T-cell responses to destroy tumors without damaging healthy cells. Extensive advances in genome sequencing technology and bioinformatics analysis have made it possible to discover and design effective neoantigens for use in therapeutic cancer vaccines. Neoantigens-based therapeutic personalized vaccines have shown promising results in cancer immunotherapy.Areas covered: We discuss the types of cancer neoantigens that can be recognized by the immune system in this review. We also summarize the detection, identification, and design of neoantigens and their appliction in developing cancer vaccines. Finally, clinical trials of neoantigen-based vaccines, their advantages, and their limitations are reviewed. From 2015 to 2020, the authors conducted a literature search of controlled randomized trials and laboratory investigations that that focused on neoantigens, their use in the design of various types of cancer vaccines.Expert opinion: Neoantigens are cancer cell-specific antigens, which their expression leads to the immune stimulation against tumor cells. The identification and delivery of specific neoantigens to antigen-presenting cells (APCs) with the help of anti-cancer vaccines promise novel and more effective cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasim Ebrahimi
- Division of Genetics, Department Cell, and Molecular Biology & Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Maryam Akbari
- Department of Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoud Ghanaatian
- Department of Microbiology, Islamic Azad University of Jahrom, Fars, Iran
| | | | - Samaneh Adelian
- Department of Genetics, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | | | - Elnaz Yazdani
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University Of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Ahmadi
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Nano and Bio Science and Technology, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Michael R Hamblin
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, South Africa
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Bhojnagarwala PS, Perales-Puchalt A, Cooch N, Sardesai NY, Weiner DB. A synDNA vaccine delivering neoAg collections controls heterogenous, multifocal murine lung and ovarian tumors via robust T cell generation. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2021; 21:278-287. [PMID: 34141866 PMCID: PMC8166642 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2021.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Neoantigens are tumor-specific antigens that arise due to somatic mutations in the DNA of tumor cells. They represent ideal targets for cancer immunotherapy since there is minimal risk for on-target, off-tumor toxicities. Additionally, these are foreign antigens that should be immunogenic due to lack of central immune tolerance. Tumor neoantigens are predominantly passenger mutations, which do not contribute to tumorigenesis. In cases of multi-focal or metastatic tumors, different foci can have significantly different mutation profiles. This suggests that it is important to target as many neoantigens as possible to better control tumors and target multi-focal tumors within the same patient. Herein, we report a study targeting up to 40 neoantigens using a single DNA plasmid. We observed significant plasticity in the epitope strings arranged in the vaccine with regard to immune induction and tumor control. Different vaccines elicited T cell responses against multiple epitopes on the vaccine string and controlled growth of multi-focal, heterogeneous tumors in a therapeutic tumor challenge. Additionally, the multi-epitope antigens induced long-term immunity and rejected a tumor re-challenge several weeks after the final vaccination. These data provide evidence that DNA-encoded long antigen strings can be an important tool for immunotherapeutic vaccination against neoantigens with implications for other in vivo-delivered antigen strings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Neil Cooch
- Geneos Therapeutics, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, USA
| | | | - David B. Weiner
- Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Abstract
Therapeutic cancer vaccines have undergone a resurgence in the past decade. A better understanding of the breadth of tumour-associated antigens, the native immune response and development of novel technologies for antigen delivery has facilitated improved vaccine design. The goal of therapeutic cancer vaccines is to induce tumour regression, eradicate minimal residual disease, establish lasting antitumour memory and avoid non-specific or adverse reactions. However, tumour-induced immunosuppression and immunoresistance pose significant challenges to achieving this goal. In this Review, we deliberate on how to improve and expand the antigen repertoire for vaccines, consider developments in vaccine platforms and explore antigen-agnostic in situ vaccines. Furthermore, we summarize the reasons for failure of cancer vaccines in the past and provide an overview of various mechanisms of resistance posed by the tumour. Finally, we propose strategies for combining suitable vaccine platforms with novel immunomodulatory approaches and standard-of-care treatments for overcoming tumour resistance and enhancing clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mansi Saxena
- Vaccine and Cell Therapy Laboratory, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Hematology and Oncology Department, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sjoerd H van der Burg
- Department of Medical Oncology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Nina Bhardwaj
- Vaccine and Cell Therapy Laboratory, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Hematology and Oncology Department, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Parker Institute of Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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Li L, Zhang X, Wang X, Kim SW, Herndon JM, Becker-Hapak MK, Carreno BM, Myers NB, Sturmoski MA, McLellan MD, Miller CA, Johanns TM, Tan BR, Dunn GP, Fleming TP, Hansen TH, Goedegebuure SP, Gillanders WE. Optimized polyepitope neoantigen DNA vaccines elicit neoantigen-specific immune responses in preclinical models and in clinical translation. Genome Med 2021; 13:56. [PMID: 33879241 PMCID: PMC8059244 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-021-00872-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preclinical studies and early clinical trials have shown that targeting cancer neoantigens is a promising approach towards the development of personalized cancer immunotherapies. DNA vaccines can be rapidly and efficiently manufactured and can integrate multiple neoantigens simultaneously. We therefore sought to optimize the design of polyepitope DNA vaccines and test optimized polyepitope neoantigen DNA vaccines in preclinical models and in clinical translation. METHODS We developed and optimized a DNA vaccine platform to target multiple neoantigens. The polyepitope DNA vaccine platform was first optimized using model antigens in vitro and in vivo. We then identified neoantigens in preclinical breast cancer models through genome sequencing and in silico neoantigen prediction pipelines. Optimized polyepitope neoantigen DNA vaccines specific for the murine breast tumor E0771 and 4T1 were designed and their immunogenicity was tested in vivo. We also tested an optimized polyepitope neoantigen DNA vaccine in a patient with metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. RESULTS Our data support an optimized polyepitope neoantigen DNA vaccine design encoding long (≥20-mer) epitopes with a mutant form of ubiquitin (Ubmut) fused to the N-terminus for antigen processing and presentation. Optimized polyepitope neoantigen DNA vaccines were immunogenic and generated robust neoantigen-specific immune responses in mice. The magnitude of immune responses generated by optimized polyepitope neoantigen DNA vaccines was similar to that of synthetic long peptide vaccines specific for the same neoantigens. When combined with immune checkpoint blockade therapy, optimized polyepitope neoantigen DNA vaccines were capable of inducing antitumor immunity in preclinical models. Immune monitoring data suggest that optimized polyepitope neoantigen DNA vaccines are capable of inducing neoantigen-specific T cell responses in a patient with metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. CONCLUSIONS We have developed and optimized a novel polyepitope neoantigen DNA vaccine platform that can target multiple neoantigens and induce antitumor immune responses in preclinical models and neoantigen-specific responses in clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijin Li
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Xiuli Zhang
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Xiaoli Wang
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Samuel W Kim
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - John M Herndon
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | | | - Beatriz M Carreno
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
- Present Address: Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Nancy B Myers
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Mark A Sturmoski
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Michael D McLellan
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Christopher A Miller
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
- The Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Tanner M Johanns
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Benjamin R Tan
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Gavin P Dunn
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Timothy P Fleming
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- The Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
- Present Address: Norton Thoracic Institute, St. Joseph Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Ted H Hansen
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - S Peter Goedegebuure
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- The Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - William E Gillanders
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
- The Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
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Supabphol S, Li L, Goedegebuure SP, Gillanders WE. Neoantigen vaccine platforms in clinical development: understanding the future of personalized immunotherapy. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2021; 30:529-541. [PMID: 33641576 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2021.1896702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Derived from genetic alterations, cancer neoantigens are proteins with novel amino acid sequences that can be recognized by the immune system. Recent evidence demonstrates that cancer neoantigens represent important targets of cancer immunotherapy. The goal of cancer neoantigen vaccines is to induce neoantigen-specific immune responses and antitumor immunity, while minimizing the potential for autoimmune toxicity. Advances in sequencing technologies, neoantigen prediction ?algorithms,? and other technologies have dramatically improved the ability to identify and prioritize cancer neoantigens. These advances have generated considerable enthusiasm for ?the ?development of neoantigen vaccines. Several neoantigen vaccine platforms are currently being evaluated in early phase clinical trials including the synthetic long peptide (SLP), RNA, dendritic cell (DC), and DNA vaccine platforms. AREAS COVERED In this review, we describe, evaluate the mechanism(s) of action, compare the advantages and disadvantages, and summarize early clinical experience with each vaccine platform. We provide perspectives on the future directions of the neoantigen vaccine field. All data are derived from PubMed and ClinicalTrials search updated in October 2020. EXPERT OPINION Although the initial clinical experience is promising, significant challenges to the success of neoantigen vaccines include limitations in neoantigen identification and the need to successfully target the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suangson Supabphol
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.,The Center of Excellence in Systems Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Lijin Li
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - S Peter Goedegebuure
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.,The Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - William E Gillanders
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.,The Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
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Abstract
Immunotherapy has changed the landscape of cancer treatment and has significantly improved the outcome of several cancer types including breast, lung, colorectal and prostate. Neoantigen recognition and immune checkpoint inhibitors are nowadays the milestones of different immunotherapeutic regimes; however, high cost, primary and acquired resistance and the high variability of responses make their extensive use difficult. The development of better predictive biomarkers that represent tumour diversity shows promise because there is a significant body of clinical data showing a spectrum of immunotherapeutic responses that might be related back to their specific characteristics. This article makes a conceptual and historical review to summarise the main advances in our understanding of the role of the immune system in cancer, while describing the methodological details that have been successfully implemented on cancer treatments and that may hold the key to improved therapeutic approaches.
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Lione L, Salvatori E, Petrazzuolo A, Massacci A, Maggio R, Confroti A, Compagnone M, Aurisicchio L, Ciliberto G, Palombo F. Antitumor efficacy of a neoantigen cancer vaccine delivered by electroporation is influenced by microbiota composition. Oncoimmunology 2021; 10:1898832. [PMID: 33796408 PMCID: PMC7993125 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2021.1898832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a heterogeneous disease and its treatment remains unsatisfactory with inconstant therapeutic responses. This variability could be related, at least in part, to different and highly personalized gut microbiota compositions. Different studies have shown an impact of microbiota on antitumor therapy. It has been demonstrated that some gut bacteria influences the development and differentiation of immune cells, suggesting that different microbiota compositions could affect the efficacy of the antitumor vaccine. Emerging data suggest that recognition of neoantigens for the generation of neoantigen cancer vaccines (NCVs) could have a key role in the activity of clinical immunotherapies. However, it is still unknown whether there is a crosstalk between microbiota and NCV. This study aimed to understand the possible mechanisms of interaction between gut microbiota and NCV delivered by DNA-electroporation (DNA-EP). We found that decreased microbiota diversity induced by prolonged antibiotic (ATB) treatment is associated with higher intratumor specific immune responses and consequently to a better antitumor effect induced by NCV delivered by DNA-EP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Lione
- Cancer Immunology, Takis, Rome, Italy
- Università Magna Grecia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | - Adriana Petrazzuolo
- Cancer Immunology, Takis, Rome, Italy
- Equipe Labellisée Par La Ligue Contre Le Cancer, Université De Paris, Sorbonne Université, INSERM U1138, Centre De Recherche Des Cordeliers, Paris, France
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
- Biogem, Ariano Irpino, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Mirco Compagnone
- Université Paris Saclay, Faculty of Medicine Kremlin Bicêtre, France
| | - Luigi Aurisicchio
- Cancer Immunology, Takis, Rome, Italy
- Evvivax, Rome, Italy
- Biogem, Ariano Irpino, Italy
- Université Paris Saclay, Faculty of Medicine Kremlin Bicêtre, France
| | - Gennaro Ciliberto
- Cancer immunology, Neomatrix, Rome, Italy
- Scientific Directorate, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Palombo
- Cancer Immunology, Takis, Rome, Italy
- Université Paris Saclay, Faculty of Medicine Kremlin Bicêtre, France
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Tumor Heterogeneity: A Great Barrier in the Age of Cancer Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040806. [PMID: 33671881 PMCID: PMC7918981 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Throughout the history of oncology research, tumor heterogeneity has been a major hurdle for the successful treatment of cancer. As a result of aberrant changes in the tumor microenvironment such as high mutational burden, hypoxic conditions and abnormal vasculature, several malignant subpopulations often exist within a single tumor mass. Therapeutic intervention can also increase selective pressure towards subpopulations with acquired resistance. This phenomenon is often the cause of relapse in previously responsive patients, drastically changing the expected outcome of therapy. In the case of cancer immunotherapy, tumor heterogeneity is a substantial barrier as acquired resistance often takes the form of antigen escape and immunosuppression. In an effort to combat intrinsic resistance mechanisms, therapies are often combined as a multi-pronged approach to target multiple pathways simultaneously. These multi-therapy regimens have long been a mainstay of clinical oncology with chemotherapy cocktails but are more recently being investigated in the emerging landscape of immunotherapy. Furthermore, as high throughput technology becomes more affordable and accessible, researchers continue to deepen their understanding of the factors that influence tumor heterogeneity and shape the TME over the course of treatment regimens. In this review, we will investigate the factors that give rise to tumor heterogeneity and the impact it has on the field of immunotherapy. We will discuss how tumor heterogeneity causes resistance to various treatments and review the strategies currently being employed to overcome this challenging clinical hurdle. Finally, we will outline areas of research that should be prioritized to gain a better understanding of tumor heterogeneity and develop appropriate solutions.
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Abstract
There are strong biologic and preclinical rationales for the development of therapeutic cancer vaccines; however, the clinical translation of this treatment strategy has been challenging. It is now understood that many previous clinical trials of cancer vaccines used target antigens or vaccine designs that inherently lacked sufficient immunogenicity to induce clinical responses. Despite the historical track record, breakthrough advances in cancer immunobiology and vaccine technologies have supported continued interest in therapeutic cancer vaccinations, with the hope that next-generation vaccine strategies will enable patients with cancer to develop long-lasting anti-tumor immunity. There has been substantial progress identifying antigens and vaccine vectors that lead to strong and broad T cell responses, tailoring vaccine designs to achieve optimal antigen presentation, and finding combination partners employing complementary mechanisms of action (e.g., checkpoint inhibitors) to overcome the diverse methods cancer cells use to evade and suppress the immune system. Results from randomized, phase 3 studies testing therapeutic cancer vaccines based on these advances are eagerly awaited. Here, we summarize the successes and failures in the clinical development of cancer vaccines, address how this historical experience and advances in science and technology have shaped efforts to improve vaccines, and offer a clinical perspective on the future role of vaccine therapies for cancer.
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Cancer Vaccines: Antigen Selection Strategy. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9020085. [PMID: 33503926 PMCID: PMC7911511 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9020085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Unlike traditional cancer therapies, cancer vaccines (CVs) harness a high specificity of the host’s immunity to kill tumor cells. CVs can train and bolster the patient’s immune system to recognize and eliminate malignant cells by enhancing immune cells’ identification of antigens expressed on cancer cells. Various features of antigens like immunogenicity and avidity influence the efficacy of CVs. Therefore, the choice and application of antigens play a critical role in establishing and developing CVs. Tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), a group of proteins expressed at elevated levels in tumor cells but lower levels in healthy normal cells, have been well-studied and developed in CVs. However, immunological tolerance, HLA restriction, and adverse events are major obstacles that threaten TAA-based CVs’ efficacy due to the “self-protein” characteristic of TAAs. As “abnormal proteins” that are completely absent from normal cells, tumor-specific antigens (TSAs) can trigger a robust immune response against tumor cells with high specificity and without going through central tolerance, contributing to cancer vaccine development feasibility. In this review, we focus on the unique features of TAAs and TSAs and their application in vaccines, summarizing their performance in preclinical and clinical trials.
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