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De Sanctis F, Lamolinara A, Boschi F, Musiu C, Caligola S, Trovato R, Fiore A, Frusteri C, Anselmi C, Poffe O, Cestari T, Canè S, Sartoris S, Giugno R, Del Rosario G, Zappacosta B, Del Pizzo F, Fassan M, Dugnani E, Piemonti L, Bottani E, Decimo I, Paiella S, Salvia R, Lawlor RT, Corbo V, Park Y, Tuveson DA, Bassi C, Scarpa A, Iezzi M, Ugel S, Bronte V. Interrupting the nitrosative stress fuels tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in pancreatic cancer. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2021-003549. [PMID: 35022194 PMCID: PMC8756272 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest tumors owing to its robust desmoplasia, low immunogenicity, and recruitment of cancer-conditioned, immunoregulatory myeloid cells. These features strongly limit the success of immunotherapy as a single agent, thereby suggesting the need for the development of a multitargeted approach. The goal is to foster T lymphocyte infiltration within the tumor landscape and neutralize cancer-triggered immune suppression, to enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of immune-based treatments, such as anticancer adoptive cell therapy (ACT). Methods We examined the contribution of immunosuppressive myeloid cells expressing arginase 1 and nitric oxide synthase 2 in building up a reactive nitrogen species (RNS)-dependent chemical barrier and shaping the PDAC immune landscape. We examined the impact of pharmacological RNS interference on overcoming the recruitment and immunosuppressive activity of tumor-expanded myeloid cells, which render pancreatic cancers resistant to immunotherapy. Results PDAC progression is marked by a stepwise infiltration of myeloid cells, which enforces a highly immunosuppressive microenvironment through the uncontrolled metabolism of L-arginine by arginase 1 and inducible nitric oxide synthase activity, resulting in the production of large amounts of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. The extensive accumulation of myeloid suppressing cells and nitrated tyrosines (nitrotyrosine, N-Ty) establishes an RNS-dependent chemical barrier that impairs tumor infiltration by T lymphocytes and restricts the efficacy of adoptive immunotherapy. A pharmacological treatment with AT38 ([3-(aminocarbonyl)furoxan-4-yl]methyl salicylate) reprograms the tumor microenvironment from protumoral to antitumoral, which supports T lymphocyte entrance within the tumor core and aids the efficacy of ACT with telomerase-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Conclusions Tumor microenvironment reprogramming by ablating aberrant RNS production bypasses the current limits of immunotherapy in PDAC by overcoming immune resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco De Sanctis
- Department of Medicine, Section of Immunology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Alessia Lamolinara
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Center for Advanced Studies and Technnology (CAST), G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Federico Boschi
- Department of Computer Science, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Chiara Musiu
- Department of Medicine, Section of Immunology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Simone Caligola
- Department of Medicine, Section of Immunology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Rosalinda Trovato
- Department of Medicine, Section of Immunology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Alessandra Fiore
- Department of Medicine, Section of Immunology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Cristina Frusteri
- Department of Medicine, Section of Immunology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Cristina Anselmi
- Department of Medicine, Section of Immunology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Ornella Poffe
- Department of Medicine, Section of Immunology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Tiziana Cestari
- Department of Medicine, Section of Immunology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Stefania Canè
- Department of Medicine, Section of Immunology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Silvia Sartoris
- Department of Medicine, Section of Immunology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Rosalba Giugno
- Department of Computer Science, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | | | - Francesco Del Pizzo
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Center for Advanced Studies and Technnology (CAST), G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Matteo Fassan
- Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Padova, Italy.,Veneto Institute of Oncology-Institute for Hospitalization and Care Scientific, Padova, Italy
| | - Erica Dugnani
- Diabetes Research Institute, San Raffaele Research Centre, Milano, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Piemonti
- Diabetes Research Institute, San Raffaele Research Centre, Milano, Italy.,School of Medicine and Surgery, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milano, Italy
| | - Emanuela Bottani
- Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, Section of Pharmacology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Ilaria Decimo
- Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, Section of Pharmacology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Salvatore Paiella
- General and Pancreatic Surgery Unit, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Roberto Salvia
- General and Pancreatic Surgery Unit, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Vincenzo Corbo
- ARC-NET, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.,Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Youngkyu Park
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA.,Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Lustgarten Foundation, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA
| | - David A Tuveson
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA.,Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Lustgarten Foundation, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA
| | - Claudio Bassi
- General and Pancreatic Surgery Unit, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Aldo Scarpa
- ARC-NET, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.,Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Manuela Iezzi
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Center for Advanced Studies and Technnology (CAST), G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Stefano Ugel
- Department of Medicine, Section of Immunology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Bronte
- Department of Medicine, Section of Immunology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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2
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Telomerase-based GX301 cancer vaccine in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: a randomized phase II trial. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2021; 70:3679-3692. [PMID: 34351436 PMCID: PMC8571235 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-021-03024-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Debate is around the optimal immunization regimen for cancer vaccines since too intense vaccination schedules may exhaust reactive lymphocytes. GX301 is a telomerase-based cancer vaccine whose safety and immunological effects were tested in a phase I trial applying an eight administrations schedule. Main objective of this study was to comparatively analyse safety and immunological response to three GX301 regimens in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients with response/disease stability after docetaxel chemotherapy. This was a multicentre, randomized, parallel-group, open-label trial registered with EudraCT (2014-000095-26) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02293707, 2014). Ninety-eight patients were randomized to receive either eight (regimen 1), four (regimen 2) or two (regimen 3) vaccine administrations. Sixty-three patients were assessable for the primary immunological end-point. Vaccine-specific immune responses were evaluated by intracellular staining for IFN, elispot and cytotoxic assay at 90 and 180 days from baseline. No major side effects were recorded. A 54% overall immune responder rate was observed with 95% of patients showing at least one vaccine-specific immune response. Rate of immunological responders and number of immunizations were proportionally related, suggesting superiority of regimens 1 and 2 over regimen 3. Overall survival did not differ among regimens in both immunological responders and non-responders and was inversely associated (P = 0.002) with increase in the number of circulating CD8 + T regulatory cells at 180 days. These data indicate that GX301 cancer vaccine is safe and immunogenic in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients. Schedules with high number of administrations should be preferred in future studies due to their better immunological outcome.
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3
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Ramello MC, Núñez NG, Tosello Boari J, Bossio SN, Canale FP, Abrate C, Ponce N, Del Castillo A, Ledesma M, Viel S, Richer W, Sedlik C, Tiraboschi C, Muñoz M, Compagno D, Gruppi A, Acosta Rodríguez EV, Piaggio E, Montes CL. Polyfunctional KLRG-1 +CD57 + Senescent CD4 + T Cells Infiltrate Tumors and Are Expanded in Peripheral Blood From Breast Cancer Patients. Front Immunol 2021; 12:713132. [PMID: 34386013 PMCID: PMC8353459 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.713132] [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: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Senescent T cells have been described during aging, chronic infections, and cancer; however, a comprehensive study of the phenotype, function, and transcriptional program of this T cell population in breast cancer (BC) patients is missing. Compared to healthy donors (HDs), BC patients exhibit an accumulation of KLRG-1+CD57+ CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood. These T cells infiltrate tumors and tumor-draining lymph nodes. KLRG-1+CD57+ CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from BC patients and HDs exhibit features of senescence, and despite their inhibitory receptor expression, they produce more effector cytokines and exhibit higher expression of Perforin, Granzyme B, and CD107a than non-senescent subsets. When compared to blood counterparts, tumor-infiltrating senescent CD4+ T cells show similar surface phenotype but reduced cytokine production. Transcriptional profiling of senescent CD4+ T cells from the peripheral blood of BC patients reveals enrichment in genes associated with NK or CD8+-mediated cytotoxicity, TCR-mediated stimulation, and cell exhaustion compared to non-senescent T cells. Comparison of the transcriptional profile of senescent CD4+ T cells from peripheral blood of BC patients with those of HDs highlighted marked similarities but also relevant differences. Senescent CD4+ T cells from BC patients show enrichment in T-cell signaling, processes involved in DNA replication, p53 pathways, oncogene-induced senescence, among others compared to their counterparts in HDs. High gene expression of CD4, KLRG-1, and B3GAT1 (CD57), which correlates with increased overall survival for BC patients, underscores the usefulness of the evaluation of the frequency of senescent CD4+ T cells as a biomarker in the follow-up of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria C Ramello
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI-CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Nicolás G Núñez
- PSL Research University, Institut Curie Research Center, Translational Research Department, Paris, France; INSERM U932, Paris, France
| | - Jimena Tosello Boari
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI-CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina.,PSL Research University, Institut Curie Research Center, Translational Research Department, Paris, France; INSERM U932, Paris, France
| | - Sabrina N Bossio
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI-CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Fernando P Canale
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI-CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Carolina Abrate
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI-CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Nicolas Ponce
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI-CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina
| | | | - Marta Ledesma
- Gynecology Deparment, Hospital Rawson, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Sophie Viel
- PSL Research University, Institut Curie Research Center, Translational Research Department, Paris, France; INSERM U932, Paris, France
| | - Wilfrid Richer
- PSL Research University, Institut Curie Research Center, Translational Research Department, Paris, France; INSERM U932, Paris, France
| | - Christine Sedlik
- PSL Research University, Institut Curie Research Center, Translational Research Department, Paris, France; INSERM U932, Paris, France
| | - Carolina Tiraboschi
- Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Glyco-Oncology, IQUIBICEN-CONICET-UBA, CABA (Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), Argentina
| | - Marcos Muñoz
- Laboratorio de Medicina experimental y terapéutica, IMIBIO, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, San Luis, Argentina
| | - Daniel Compagno
- Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Glyco-Oncology, IQUIBICEN-CONICET-UBA, CABA (Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), Argentina
| | - Adriana Gruppi
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI-CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Eva V Acosta Rodríguez
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI-CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Eliane Piaggio
- PSL Research University, Institut Curie Research Center, Translational Research Department, Paris, France; INSERM U932, Paris, France
| | - Carolina L Montes
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI-CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina
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4
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Vonderheide RH, Kraynyak KA, Shields AF, McRee AJ, Johnson JM, Sun W, Chintakuntlawar AV, Pawlicki J, Sylvester AJ, McMullan T, Samuels R, Kim JJ, Weiner D, Boyer JD, Morrow MP, Humeau L, Skolnik JM. Phase 1 study of safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of the human telomerase (hTERT)-encoded DNA plasmids INO-1400 and INO-1401 with or without IL-12 DNA plasmid INO-9012 in adult patients with solid tumors. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2021-003019. [PMID: 34230114 PMCID: PMC8261871 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is frequently classified as a ‘universal’ tumor associated antigen due to its expression in a vast number of cancers. We evaluated plasmid DNA-encoded hTERT as an immunotherapy across nine cancer types. Methods A phase 1 clinical trial was conducted in adult patients with no evidence of disease following definitive surgery and standard therapy, who were at high risk of relapse. Plasmid DNA encoding one of two hTERT variants (INO-1400 or INO-1401) with or without plasmid DNA encoding interleukin 12 (IL-12) (INO-9012) was delivered intramuscularly concurrent with the application of the CELLECTRA constant-current electroporation device 4 times across 12 weeks. Safety assessments and immune monitoring against native (germline, non-mutated, non-plasmid matched) hTERT antigen were performed. The largest cohort of patients enrolled had pancreatic cancer, allowing for additional targeted assessments for this tumor type. Results Of the 93 enrolled patients who received at least one dose, 88 had at least one adverse event; the majority were grade 1 or 2, related to injection site. At 18 months, 54.8% (51/93) patients were disease-free, with median disease-free survival (DFS) not reached by end of study. For patients with pancreatic cancer, the median DFS was 9 months, with 41.4% of these patients remaining disease-free at 18 months. hTERT immunotherapy induced a de novo cellular immune response or enhanced pre-existing cellular responses to native hTERT in 96% (88/92) of patients with various cancer types. Treatment with INO-1400/INO-1401±INO-9012 drove hTERT-specific IFN-γ production, generated hTERT-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing the activation marker CD38, and induced hTERT-specific activated CD8 +CTLs as defined by cells expressing perforin and granzymes. The addition of plasmid IL-12 adjuvant elicited higher magnitudes of cellular responses including IFN-γ production, activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and activated CD8+CTLs. In a subset analysis of pancreatic cancer patients, the presence of immunotherapy-induced activated CD8+ T cells expressing PD-1, granzymes and perforin correlated with survival. Conclusions Plasmid DNA-encoded hTERT/IL-12 DNA immunotherapy was well-tolerated, immune responses were noted across all tumor types, and a specific CD8+ phenotype increased by the immunotherapy was significantly correlated with survival in patients with pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert H Vonderheide
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Anthony F Shields
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Autumn J McRee
- University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jennifer M Johnson
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Weijing Sun
- University of Kansas Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | | | - Jan Pawlicki
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | - Robert Samuels
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Joseph J Kim
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David Weiner
- Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jean D Boyer
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Laurent Humeau
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, USA
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5
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Relitti N, Saraswati AP, Federico S, Khan T, Brindisi M, Zisterer D, Brogi S, Gemma S, Butini S, Campiani G. Telomerase-based Cancer Therapeutics: A Review on their Clinical Trials. Curr Top Med Chem 2020; 20:433-457. [PMID: 31894749 DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200102104930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres are protective chromosomal ends that shield the chromosomes from DNA damage, exonucleolytic degradation, recombination, and end-to-end fusion. Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein that adds TTAGGG tandem repeats to the telomeric ends. It has been observed that 85 to 90% of human tumors express high levels of telomerase, playing a crucial role in the development of cancers. Interestingly, the telomerase activity is generally absent in normal somatic cells. This selective telomerase expression has driven scientists to develop novel anti-cancer therapeutics with high specificity and potency. Several advancements have been made in this area, which is reflected by the enormous success of the anticancer agent Imetelstat. Since the discovery of Imetelstat, several research groups have contributed to enrich the therapeutic arsenal against cancer. Such contributions include the application of new classes of small molecules, peptides, and hTERT-based immunotherapeutic agents (p540, GV1001, GRNVAC1 or combinations of these such as Vx-001). Many of these therapeutic tools are under different stages of clinical trials and have shown promising outcomes. In this review, we highlight the current status of telomerase-based cancer therapeutics and the outcome of these investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Relitti
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, via Aldo Moro 2, I- 53100 Siena, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Akella P Saraswati
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, via Aldo Moro 2, I- 53100 Siena, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Stefano Federico
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, via Aldo Moro 2, I- 53100 Siena, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Tuhina Khan
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, via Aldo Moro 2, I- 53100 Siena, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Margherita Brindisi
- Department of Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, I-80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Daniela Zisterer
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160, Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Simone Brogi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, via Bonanno Pisano 6, I-56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Sandra Gemma
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, via Aldo Moro 2, I- 53100 Siena, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Stefania Butini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, via Aldo Moro 2, I- 53100 Siena, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, via Aldo Moro 2, I- 53100 Siena, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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6
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Anti-cancer Immunotherapies Targeting Telomerase. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12082260. [PMID: 32806719 PMCID: PMC7465444 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12082260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomerase is a reverse transcriptase that maintains telomeres length, compensating for the attrition of chromosomal ends that occurs during each replication cycle. Telomerase is expressed in germ cells and stem cells, whereas it is virtually undetectable in adult somatic cells. On the other hand, telomerase is broadly expressed in the majority of human tumors playing a crucial role in the replicative behavior and immortality of cancer cells. Several studies have demonstrated that telomerase-derived peptides are able to bind to HLA (human leukocyte antigen) class I and class II molecules and effectively activate both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells subsets. Due to its broad and selective expression in cancer cells and its significant immunogenicity, telomerase is considered an ideal universal tumor-associated antigen, and consequently, a very attractive target for anti-cancer immunotherapy. To date, different telomerase targeting immunotherapies have been studied in pre-clinical and clinical settings, these approaches include peptide vaccination and cell-based vaccination. The objective of this review paper is to discuss the role of human telomerase in cancer immunotherapy analyzing recent developments and future perspectives in this field.
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7
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Dosset M, Castro A, Carter H, Zanetti M. Telomerase and CD4 T Cell Immunity in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12061687. [PMID: 32630460 PMCID: PMC7352225 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12061687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is a conserved self-tumor antigen which is overexpressed in most tumors and plays a critical role in tumor formation and progression. As such, TERT is an antigen of great relevance to develop widely applicable immunotherapies. CD4 T cells play a major role in the anti-cancer response alone or with other effector cells such as CD8 T cells and NK cells. To date, efforts have been made to identify TERT peptides capable of stimulating CD4 T cells that are also able to bind diverse MHC-II alleles to ease immune status monitoring and immunotherapies. Here, we review the current status of TERT biology, TERT/MHC-II immunobiology, and past and current vaccine clinical trials. We propose that monitoring CD4 T cell immunity against TERT is a simple and direct way to assess immune surveillance in cancer patients and a new way to predict the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPi). Finally, we present the initial results of a systematic discovery of TERT peptides able to bind the most common HLA Class II alleles worldwide and show that the repertoire of MHC-II TERT peptides is wider than currently appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magalie Dosset
- The Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-081, USA;
| | - Andrea Castro
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine and Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (A.C.); (H.C.)
- Health Science, Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Hannah Carter
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine and Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (A.C.); (H.C.)
| | - Maurizio Zanetti
- The Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-081, USA;
- Correspondence:
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8
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Kiaee F, Azizi G, Rafiemanesh H, Zainaldain H, Sadaat Rizvi F, Alizadeh M, Jamee M, Mohammadi S, Habibi S, Sharifi L, Jadidi-Niaragh F, Haghi S, Yazdani R, Abolhassani H, Aghamohammadi A. Malignancy in common variable immunodeficiency: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2019; 15:1105-1113. [PMID: 31452405 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2019.1658523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Background: Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most common clinically significant primary immunodeficiency (PID) disorder characterized by variable clinical manifestations including recurrent infections, autoimmune disorders, enteropathy, lymphoproliferative disorders, and malignancy. The aim of this study is to estimate the overall prevalence of malignancy in patients with CVID. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus were searched systemically to find eligible studies from the earliest available date to March 2019 with standard keywords. Pooled estimates of the malignancy prevalence and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random effects models. Results: Forty-eight studies with a total of 8123 CVID patients met the inclusion criteria and were finally included in the meta-analysis. Overall prevalence of malignancy was 8.6% (95% CI: 7.1-10.0; I2 = 79.2%). The prevalence of lymphoma, gastric cancer, and breast cancer in CVID patients were 4.1% (95% CI: 3.3-4.9; I2 = 62.6%), 1.5% (95% CI: 0.78-2.2; I2 = 68.9%), and 1.3% (95% CI: 0.64-1.9; I2 = 54.9%), respectively. Moreover, autoimmunity and malabsorption were more frequent in patients with malignancy than those without malignancy. Conclusion: The prevalence of malignancy has increased in CVID patients due to recent improvement in survival rate and the lymphoma is the most common type. This research highlighted the significance of malignancy screening and management in CVID patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Kiaee
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.,Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Gholamreza Azizi
- Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences , Karaj , Iran
| | - Hosein Rafiemanesh
- Student Research Committee, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Hamed Zainaldain
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Fatema Sadaat Rizvi
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Mahla Alizadeh
- Evidence- Based Phytotherapy and Complementary Medicine Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences , Karaj , Iran.,Student Research Committee, Alborz University of Medical Sciences , Karaj , Iran
| | - Mahnaz Jamee
- Student Research Committee, Alborz University of Medical Sciences , Karaj , Iran
| | - Sara Mohammadi
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Sima Habibi
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Laleh Sharifi
- Uro-Oncology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Farhad Jadidi-Niaragh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.,Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran
| | - Sabahat Haghi
- Department of Hematology & Oncology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences , Karaj , Iran
| | - Reza Yazdani
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Hassan Abolhassani
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.,Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute at Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Asghar Aghamohammadi
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
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9
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Sandri S, De Sanctis F, Lamolinara A, Boschi F, Poffe O, Trovato R, Fiore A, Sartori S, Sbarbati A, Bondanza A, Cesaro S, Krampera M, Scupoli MT, Nishimura MI, Iezzi M, Sartoris S, Bronte V, Ugel S. Effective control of acute myeloid leukaemia and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia progression by telomerase specific adoptive T-cell therapy. Oncotarget 2017; 8:86987-87001. [PMID: 29152058 PMCID: PMC5675610 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.18115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomerase (TERT) is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that preserves the molecular organization at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. Since TERT deregulation is a common step in leukaemia, treatments targeting telomerase might be useful for the therapy of hematologic malignancies. Despite a large spectrum of potential drugs, their bench-to-bedside translation is quite limited, with only a therapeutic vaccine in the clinic and a telomerase inhibitor at late stage of preclinical validation. We recently demonstrated that the adoptive transfer of T cell transduced with an HLA-A2-restricted T-cell receptor (TCR), which recognize human TERT with high avidity, controls human B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) progression without severe side-effects in humanized mice. In the present report, we show the ability of our approach to limit the progression of more aggressive leukemic pathologies, such as acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL). Together, our findings demonstrate that TERT-based adoptive cell therapy is a concrete platform of T cell-mediated immunotherapy for leukaemia treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Sandri
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Section of Immunology, Verona, Italy
| | - Francesco De Sanctis
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Section of Immunology, Verona, Italy
| | - Alessia Lamolinara
- Department of Medicine and Aging Science, Center of Excellence on Aging and Translational Medicine (CeSi-Met), G. D'Annunzio University, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Federico Boschi
- Department of Computer Science, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Ornella Poffe
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Section of Immunology, Verona, Italy
| | - Rosalinda Trovato
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Section of Immunology, Verona, Italy
| | - Alessandra Fiore
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Section of Immunology, Verona, Italy
| | - Sara Sartori
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Section of Immunology, Verona, Italy
| | - Andrea Sbarbati
- Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Attilio Bondanza
- Innovative Immunotherapies Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, San Raffaele Hospital Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milano, Italy
| | - Simone Cesaro
- Department of Pediatric Haematology Oncology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Mauro Krampera
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Section of Haematology, Verona, Italy
| | - Maria T Scupoli
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Section of Haematology, Verona, Italy.,University of Verona, Interdepartmental Laboratory for Medical Research (LURM), Verona, Italy
| | - Michael I Nishimura
- Department of Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, United States
| | - Manuela Iezzi
- Department of Medicine and Aging Science, Center of Excellence on Aging and Translational Medicine (CeSi-Met), G. D'Annunzio University, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Silvia Sartoris
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Section of Immunology, Verona, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Bronte
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Section of Immunology, Verona, Italy
| | - Stefano Ugel
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Section of Immunology, Verona, Italy
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10
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Law AMK, Lim E, Ormandy CJ, Gallego-Ortega D. The innate and adaptive infiltrating immune systems as targets for breast cancer immunotherapy. Endocr Relat Cancer 2017; 24:R123-R144. [PMID: 28193698 PMCID: PMC5425956 DOI: 10.1530/erc-16-0404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
A cancer cell-centric view has long dominated the field of cancer biology. Research efforts have focussed on aberrant cancer cell signalling pathways and on changes to cancer cell DNA. Mounting evidence demonstrates that many cancer-associated cell types within the tumour stroma co-evolve and support tumour growth and development, greatly modifying cancer cell behaviour, facilitating invasion and metastasis and controlling dormancy and sensitivity to drug therapy. Thus, these stromal cells represent potential targets for cancer therapy. Among these cell types, immune cells have emerged as a promising target for therapy. The adaptive and the innate immune system play an important role in normal mammary development and breast cancer. The number of infiltrating adaptive immune system cells with tumour-rejecting capacity, primarily, T lymphocytes, is lower in breast cancer compared with other cancer types, but infiltration occurs in a large proportion of cases. There is strong evidence demonstrating the importance of the immunosuppressive role of the innate immune system during breast cancer progression. A consideration of components of both the innate and the adaptive immune system is essential for the design and development of immunotherapies in breast cancer. In this review, we focus on the importance of immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) as potential targets for breast cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M K Law
- Tumour Development GroupThe Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
- Cancer Biology LaboratoryThe Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Elgene Lim
- Connie Johnson Breast Cancer Research LaboratoryThe Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
- St. Vincent's Clinical SchoolFaculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Christopher J Ormandy
- Cancer Biology LaboratoryThe Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
- St. Vincent's Clinical SchoolFaculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David Gallego-Ortega
- Tumour Development GroupThe Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
- St. Vincent's Clinical SchoolFaculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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11
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Conteduca G, Fenoglio D, Parodi A, Battaglia F, Kalli F, Negrini S, Tardito S, Ferrera F, Salis A, Millo E, Pasquale G, Barra G, Damonte G, Indiveri F, Ferrone S, Filaci G. AIRE polymorphism, melanoma antigen-specific T cell immunity, and susceptibility to melanoma. Oncotarget 2016; 7:60872-60884. [PMID: 27563821 PMCID: PMC5308622 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.11506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
AIRE is involved in susceptibility to melanoma perhaps regulating T cell immunity against melanoma antigens (MA). To address this issue, AIRE and MAGEB2 expressions were measured by real time PCR in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) from two strains of C57BL/6 mice bearing either T or C allelic variant of the rs1800522 AIRE SNP. Moreover, the extent of apoptosis induced by mTECs in MAGEB2-specific T cells and the susceptibility to in vivo melanoma B16F10 cell challenge were compared in the two mouse strains.The C allelic variant, protective in humans against melanoma, induced lower AIRE and MAGEB2 expression in C57BL/6 mouse mTECs than the T allele. Moreover, mTECs expressing the C allelic variant induced lower extent of apoptosis in MAGEB2-specific syngeneic T cells than mTECs bearing the T allelic variant (p < 0.05). Vaccination against MAGEB2 induced higher frequency of MAGEB2-specific CTL and exerted higher protective effect against melanoma development in mice bearing the CC AIRE genotype than in those bearing the TT one (p < 0.05). These findings show that allelic variants of one AIRE SNP may differentially shape the MA-specific T cell repertoire potentially influencing susceptibility to melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniela Fenoglio
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS AOU San Martino – IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - Alessia Parodi
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Florinda Battaglia
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Kalli
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Simone Negrini
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Samuele Tardito
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Ferrera
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Annalisa Salis
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Enrico Millo
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Pasquale
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Giusi Barra
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Gianluca Damonte
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesco Indiveri
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Soldano Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gilberto Filaci
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS AOU San Martino – IST, Genoa, Italy
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12
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Zanetti M. A second chance for telomerase reverse transcriptase in anticancer immunotherapy. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2016; 14:115-128. [DOI: 10.1038/nrclinonc.2016.67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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13
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Fenoglio D, Parodi A, Lavieri R, Kalli F, Ferrera F, Tagliamacco A, Guastalla A, Lamperti MG, Giacomini M, Filaci G. Immunogenicity of GX301 cancer vaccine: Four (telomerase peptides) are better than one. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2016; 11:838-50. [PMID: 25714118 PMCID: PMC4514186 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2015.1012032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptide540–548, peptide611–626, peptide672–686 and peptide766–780, which are derived from human telomerase, constitute the immunogenic component of the GX301 cancer vaccine. The relative immunogenicity of these peptides is unknown, thus it is unsure whether their combined use offers real advantages over single peptide stimulation. Hence, this study compared the number of specific immune responses and responders to each peptide, as well as to their mixture (meaning the co-presence of the 4 peptides in the same culture well), achieved after ex vivo stimulation of PBMC from 21, HLA-A2+ (n.11) or HLA-A2- (n.10), healthy donors. The study was performed on freshly collected PBMC (T0) and on PBMC stimulated for 10 d with single peptides or their mixture (T1). Peptide-specific immune responses were analyzed by Elispot and cytokine intracellular staining by flow cytometry. The results showed that each peptide induced specific immune responses in some subjects, with different panels of responders among the peptides. Moreover, the numbers of responses and responders to the single peptides or their mixture were comparable. Importantly, the overall number of responders to the 4 peptides was higher than to each single peptide, or to their mixture, both at T0 and T1. These data demonstrate the immunogenicity of each of the 4 GX301 telomerase peptides. Moreover, they show the advantage of multi-peptide over single peptide stimulation, providing a clear support to their combined administration in vaccination protocols. However, the data pose a warning against peptide administration as a mixture due to possible interference phenomena during antigen presentation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Fenoglio
- a Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research ; University of Genoa ; Genoa , Italy
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14
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Abstract
Overexpressed tumor-self antigens represent the largest group of candidate vaccine targets. Those exhibiting a role in oncogenesis may be some of the least studied but perhaps most promising. This review considers this subset of self antigens by highlighting vaccine efforts for some of the better known members and focusing on TPD52, a new promising vaccine target. We shed light on the importance of both preclinical and clinical vaccine studies demonstrating that tolerance and autoimmunity (presumed to preclude this class of antigens from vaccine development) can be overcome and do not present the obstacle that might have been expected. The potential of this class of antigens for broad application is considered, possibly in the context of low tumor burden or adjuvant therapy, as is the need to understand mechanisms of tolerance that are relatively understudied.
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Key Words
- ALK, Anaplastic lymphoma kinase
- AR, androgen receptor
- CTL, cytotoxic T lymphocyte
- CTLA-4, cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4
- HLA, human leukocyte antigen
- Her-2/neu, human epithelial growth factor receptor 2
- ODN, oligodeoxynucleotide
- Overexpressed tumor-self antigen
- TAA, tumor associated antigen
- TPD52
- TRAMP, Transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate
- Treg, T regulatory cell
- VEGFR2, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2
- WT-1, Wilms tumor-1
- hD52
- hD52, human TPD52
- mD52
- mD52, murine TPD52
- oncogenic
- shared
- tumor protein D52
- universal
- vaccine
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert K Bright
- a Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology and the TTUHSC Cancer Center ; Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center ; Lubbock , TX USA
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15
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Rodvold JJ, Mahadevan NR, Zanetti M. Immune modulation by ER stress and inflammation in the tumor microenvironment. Cancer Lett 2015; 380:227-36. [PMID: 26525580 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2015.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2015] [Revised: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 09/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
It is now increasingly evident that the immune system represents a barrier to tumor emergence, growth, and recurrence. Although this idea was originally proposed almost 50 years ago as the "immune surveillance hypothesis", it is commonly recognized that, with few rare exceptions, tumor cells always prevail. Thus, one of the central unsolved paradoxes of tumor immunology is how a tumor escapes immune control, which is reflected in the lack of effective autochthonous or vaccine-induced anti-tumor T cell responses. In this review, we discuss the role of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response/unfolded protein response (UPR) in the immunomodulation of myeloid cells and T cells. Specifically, we will discuss how the tumor cell UPR polarizes myeloid cells in a cell-extrinsic manner, and how in turn, thus polarized myeloid cells negatively affect T cell activation and clonal expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey J Rodvold
- The Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093-0815
| | - Navin R Mahadevan
- The Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093-0815
| | - Maurizio Zanetti
- The Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093-0815.
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16
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Abstract
Prostate cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer in men and current treatment of advanced prostate cancer is ineffective. Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment option for metastatic prostate cancer but its clinical application is still in the early stages of development. In order to treat metastatic prostate tumors, new directions must be taken to improve current immunotherapeutic strategies. These include the identification of effective tumor antigens (Ags), the induction of the HLA class II pathway for Ag processing and CD4+ T cell activation, and the ability of tumor cells to act like Ag presenting cells. In this review, we suggest a model for tumor Ag selection, epitope modification and self-processing for presentation by class II proteins as a means of restoring immune activation and tumor clearance. We also outline the importance of a Gamma-IFN-inducible Lysosomal Thiol reductase (GILT) in Ag and modified peptide processing by tumor cells, generation of functional epitopes for T cell recognition, and inclusion of immune checkpoint blockers in cancer immunotherapy. Taken together, this review provides a framework for the future development of novel cancer vaccines and the improvement of existing immunotherapeutics in prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bently P Doonan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Azizul Haque
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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17
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Yaswen P, MacKenzie KL, Keith WN, Hentosh P, Rodier F, Zhu J, Firestone GL, Matheu A, Carnero A, Bilsland A, Sundin T, Honoki K, Fujii H, Georgakilas AG, Amedei A, Amin A, Helferich B, Boosani CS, Guha G, Ciriolo MR, Chen S, Mohammed SI, Azmi AS, Bhakta D, Halicka D, Niccolai E, Aquilano K, Ashraf SS, Nowsheen S, Yang X. Therapeutic targeting of replicative immortality. Semin Cancer Biol 2015; 35 Suppl:S104-S128. [PMID: 25869441 PMCID: PMC4600408 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2015.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2014] [Revised: 03/06/2015] [Accepted: 03/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
One of the hallmarks of malignant cell populations is the ability to undergo continuous proliferation. This property allows clonal lineages to acquire sequential aberrations that can fuel increasingly autonomous growth, invasiveness, and therapeutic resistance. Innate cellular mechanisms have evolved to regulate replicative potential as a hedge against malignant progression. When activated in the absence of normal terminal differentiation cues, these mechanisms can result in a state of persistent cytostasis. This state, termed “senescence,” can be triggered by intrinsic cellular processes such as telomere dysfunction and oncogene expression, and by exogenous factors such as DNA damaging agents or oxidative environments. Despite differences in upstream signaling, senescence often involves convergent interdependent activation of tumor suppressors p53 and p16/pRB, but can be induced, albeit with reduced sensitivity, when these suppressors are compromised. Doses of conventional genotoxic drugs required to achieve cancer cell senescence are often much lower than doses required to achieve outright cell death. Additional therapies, such as those targeting cyclin dependent kinases or components of the PI3K signaling pathway, may induce senescence specifically in cancer cells by circumventing defects in tumor suppressor pathways or exploiting cancer cells’ heightened requirements for telomerase. Such treatments sufficient to induce cancer cell senescence could provide increased patient survival with fewer and less severe side effects than conventional cytotoxic regimens. This positive aspect is countered by important caveats regarding senescence reversibility, genomic instability, and paracrine effects that may increase heterogeneity and adaptive resistance of surviving cancer cells. Nevertheless, agents that effectively disrupt replicative immortality will likely be valuable components of new combinatorial approaches to cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Yaswen
- Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA, United States.
| | - Karen L MacKenzie
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia.
| | | | | | | | - Jiyue Zhu
- Washington State University College of Pharmacy, Pullman, WA, United States.
| | | | | | - Amancio Carnero
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, HUVR, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Universdad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Amr Amin
- United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates; Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Bill Helferich
- University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | | | - Gunjan Guha
- SASTRA University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Sophie Chen
- Ovarian and Prostate Cancer Research Trust, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | | | - Asfar S Azmi
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | | | | | | | | | - S Salman Ashraf
- United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates; Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Xujuan Yang
- University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
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18
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Zanetti M. Tapping CD4 T Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy: The Choice of Personalized Genomics. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 194:2049-56. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1402669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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19
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Peptide-Based Vaccination and Induction of CD8+ T-Cell Responses Against Tumor Antigens in Breast Cancer. BioDrugs 2014; 29:15-30. [DOI: 10.1007/s40259-014-0114-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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20
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Gahn B, Staudinger M, Woester K, Wellnitz D, Boettcher S, Gramatzki M, Kneba M. In vitro activation of hTERT-specific T cell responses in lung cancer patients following chemotherapy. J Thorac Dis 2013; 5:240-50. [PMID: 23825754 DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2013.05.07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2013] [Accepted: 05/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine chemotherapy concomitant in vitro activation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT)-specific T cell responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS PBMCs depleted of regulatory T cells were stimulated by peptide loaded dendritic cells (DC) matured either by application of cytokines (cDC) or a Toll-like receptor 7/8-agonist combined with a soluble CD40-ligand (ligDC). The hTERT peptide-specific T cell responses were assessed using flow cytometry for intracellular interferon-γ (IFN-γ). RESULTS After cDC activation, T cells producing IFN-γ in response to hTERT were found in PBMC samples of 4 patients. In 2 of these patients the hTERT-specific T cell responses were further increased after ligDC application. However, PBMC of 3 other patients showed little or no induction of hTERT-specific T cell responses as a result of the methods applied during this study. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate, that concomitant to chemotherapy hTERT-specific T cell responses can be activated in PBMC of NSCLC patients in vitro. This activation can be further increased by ligDC though the number of responding patients is still limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Gahn
- Second Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, 24116 Kiel, Germany
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21
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Fenoglio D, Traverso P, Parodi A, Tomasello L, Negrini S, Kalli F, Battaglia F, Ferrera F, Sciallero S, Murdaca G, Setti M, Sobrero A, Boccardo F, Cittadini G, Puppo F, Criscuolo D, Carmignani G, Indiveri F, Filaci G. A multi-peptide, dual-adjuvant telomerase vaccine (GX301) is highly immunogenic in patients with prostate and renal cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2013; 62:1041-52. [PMID: 23591981 PMCID: PMC11029691 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-013-1415-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2012] [Accepted: 03/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anti-tumor vaccination is a new frontier in cancer treatment applicable to immunogenic neoplasms such as prostate and renal cancers. GX301 is a vaccine constituted by four telomerase peptides and two adjuvants, Montanide ISA-51 and Imiquimod. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to analyze safety and tolerability of GX301 in an open-label, phase I/II trial. Immunological and clinical responses were also evaluated as secondary endpoints. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN GX301 was administered by intradermally injecting 500 μg of each peptide (dissolved in Montanide ISA-51) in the skin of the abdomen. Imiquimod was applied as a cream at the injection sites. The protocol included 8 administrations at days 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, 35, 63. Eligible patients were affected with stage IV prostate or renal cancer resistant to conventional treatments. Patients were clinically and immunologically monitored up to 6 months from the first immunization. RESULTS No grade 3-4 adverse events were observed. Evidence of vaccine-specific immunological responses was detected in 100 % of patients. Disease stabilization occurred in 4 patients. Prolonged progression-free survival and overall survival were observed in patients showing a full pattern of vaccine-specific immunological responses. CONCLUSION GX301 demonstrated to be safe and highly immunogenic. Further studies are needed to determine its clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Fenoglio
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV n. 7, 16132 Genoa, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Paolo Traverso
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV n. 7, 16132 Genoa, Italy
- Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Alessia Parodi
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV n. 7, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Laura Tomasello
- Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria San Martino—IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - Simone Negrini
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV n. 7, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Kalli
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV n. 7, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Florinda Battaglia
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV n. 7, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Ferrera
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV n. 7, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Stefania Sciallero
- Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria San Martino—IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Murdaca
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Maurizio Setti
- Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria San Martino—IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - Alberto Sobrero
- Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria San Martino—IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesco Boccardo
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria San Martino—IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cittadini
- Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria San Martino—IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesco Puppo
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Domenico Criscuolo
- Genovax srl, Colleretto Giacosa, Italy
- Present Address: Mediolanum Farmaceutici Spa, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Indiveri
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV n. 7, 16132 Genoa, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gilberto Filaci
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV n. 7, 16132 Genoa, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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22
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Barsov EV. Telomerase and primary T cells: biology and immortalization for adoptive immunotherapy. Immunotherapy 2012; 3:407-21. [PMID: 21395382 DOI: 10.2217/imt.10.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are specialized repeats, present at the end of chromosomes, whose loss during cell division is followed by growth arrest, a central mechanism of replicative senescence in human cells. Telomere length in stem cells is maintained by telomerase, a specialized reverse transcriptase, whose function is to restore shortening telomeres. Unlike most somatic cell types, human T lymphocytes are capable of briefly reactivating telomerase expression at the time of stimulation. Telomerase expression in T lymphocytes is modulated by a variety of external stimuli and by viral infections. However, telomerase reactivation in stimulated, proliferating human T lymphocytes is limited and cannot prevent the ultimate onset of senescence. Ectopic telomerase expression can rescue human and macaque antigen-specific T cells from senescence. Primary T cells have been engineered with telomerase to have substantially extended replicative lifespans without the loss of primary cell functions or malignant transformation. 'Immortal' antigen-specific T-cell lines and clones overexpressing telomerase are an invaluable source of well-characterized quasi-primary T cells for research of T-cell biology and are potentially useful for immunotherapy of cancer and AIDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene V Barsov
- SAIC-Frederick, Inc., National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
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23
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Mangerini R, Romano P, Facchiano A, Damonte G, Muselli M, Rocco M, Boccardo F, Profumo A. The application of atmospheric pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization to the analysis of long-term cryopreserved serum peptidome. Anal Biochem 2011; 417:174-81. [PMID: 21756868 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2011.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2011] [Revised: 06/03/2011] [Accepted: 06/16/2011] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Although most time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometers come equipped with vacuum matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) sources, the atmospheric pressure MALDI (API-MALDI) source is an attractive option because of its ability to be coupled to a wide range of analyzers. This article describes the use of an API-MALDI source coupled to a TOF mass spectrometer for evaluation of the effects of medium- and long-term storage on peptidomic profiles of cryopreserved serum samples from healthy women. Peptides were purified using superparamagnetic beads either from fresh sera or after serum storage at -80°C for 18 months or at -20°C for 8 years. Data were preprocessed using newly developed bioinformatic tools and then were subjected to statistical analysis and class prediction. The analyses showed a dramatic effect of storage on the abundance of several peptides such as fibrinopeptides A and B, complement fractions, bradykinin, and clusterin, indicated by other authors as disease biomarkers. Most of these results were confirmed by shadow clustering analysis, able to classify each sample in the correct group. In addition to demonstrating the suitability of the API-MALDI technique for peptidome profiling studies, our data are of relevance for retrospective studies that involve frozen sera stored for many years in biobanks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Mangerini
- SC Oncologia Medica B, Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, 16132 Genova, Italy
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24
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Chen M, McLeskey SW. Telomere-based cancer treatment: emerging targeted therapies. Clin J Oncol Nurs 2011; 14:720-6. [PMID: 21112850 DOI: 10.1188/10.cjon.720-726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are standard care in cancer treatment; however, both have numerous adverse side effects because they affect healthy as well as cancerous cells. The side effects, including decreased white blood cell count, nausea, hair loss, and fatigue, can be severe enough that patients may decide to forgo treatment. Targeted therapies are treatments that focus on specific molecules in cancerous cells and avoid disruption of healthy cells. Telomeres, the ends of chromosomes, are possible targets. In healthy cells, telomeres become shorter with each cell division, limiting the number of divisions that a normal cell can undergo. Many cancer cells have telomerase activity, which rebuilds telomeres after each cell division and confers immortality to cancer cells. Telomerase is an enzyme normally present to a significant degree only in the cells of developing fetuses. Treatments that target the telomerase enzyme itself or the chromosomal telomeres are being developed and tested in early clinical trials. This article focuses on several approaches to telomere-targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Chen
- Arthritis and Rheumatology of Georgia, Atlanta, USA.
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25
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Karanikas V, Germenis A. Determinants of cancer immunotherapy success. Expert Rev Vaccines 2010; 9:1363-6. [PMID: 21105772 DOI: 10.1586/erv.10.138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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26
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Maritz MF, Napier CE, Wen VW, MacKenzie KL. Targeting telomerase in hematologic malignancy. Future Oncol 2010; 6:769-89. [PMID: 20465390 DOI: 10.2217/fon.10.42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past two decades, it has become increasingly apparent that telomerase-mediated telomere maintenance plays a crucial role in hematopoiesis. Supporting evidence is underscored by recent findings of mutations in genes involved in telomerase-mediated telomere maintenance that contribute to the pathogenesis of bone marrow failure syndromes. More recently described telomere-independent functions of telomerase are also likely to contribute to both normal hematopoiesis and hematologic diseases. The high levels of telomerase detected in aggressive leukemias have fueled fervent investigation into diverse approaches to targeting telomerase in hematologic malignancies. Successful preclinical investigations that employed genetic strategies, oligonucleotides, small-molecule inhibitors and immunotherapy have resulted in a rapid translation to clinical trials. Further investigation of telomere-independent functions of telomerase and detailed preclinical studies of telomerase inhibition in both normal and malignant hematopoiesis will be invaluable for refining treatments to effectively and safely exploit telomerase as a therapeutic target in hematologic malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle F Maritz
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, New South Wales, Australia
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27
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Karanikas V, Zamanakou M, Soukou F, Kerenidi T, Gourgoulianis KI, Germenis AE. Naturally occurring tumor‐specific CD8
+
T‐cell precursors in individuals with and without cancer. Immunol Cell Biol 2010; 88:575-85. [DOI: 10.1038/icb.2010.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Vaios Karanikas
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Department of Immunology & Histocompatibility, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly Larissa Greece
| | - Maria Zamanakou
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Department of Immunology & Histocompatibility, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly Larissa Greece
| | - Faye Soukou
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Department of Immunology & Histocompatibility, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly Larissa Greece
| | - Theodora Kerenidi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, University Hospital of Larissa Larissa Greece
| | - Konstantinos I Gourgoulianis
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, University Hospital of Larissa Larissa Greece
| | - Anastasios E Germenis
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Department of Immunology & Histocompatibility, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly Larissa Greece
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28
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Kryukov F, Ocadlíková D, Kovárová L, Buresová I, Hájek R, Michálek J. In vitro activation of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes by hTERT-pulsed dendritic cells. J Immunotoxicol 2010; 6:243-8. [PMID: 19908943 DOI: 10.3109/15476910903236134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple myeloma has been considered a weakly immunogenic malignancy that can cause profound defects in the immune system. An important issue for the immunotherapy of myeloma is the identification of appropriate tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). Recently, hTERT (human telomerase reverse transcriptase) was detected on a majority of human malignancies. In the studies reported here, we studied antigen-specific and HLA-A2-restricted cytotoxic activity against an ARH77 myeloma cell line in vitro. An HLA-A2-specific hTERT-derived nonapeptide ((540)ILAKFLHWL(548)) was used as a TAA. Myeloma-specific cytotoxic activity of hTERT-reactive cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTLs) was established by repeated stimulation of the CTLs via dendritic cells loaded with hTERT-derived nonapeptide. These studies were able to demonstrate that hTERT-reactive T-lymphocytes can be identified and expanded using relatively simple in vitro techniques consisting of antigen-specific stimulation, immunomagnetic sorting, and then induction of rapid expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fedor Kryukov
- University Cell Immunotherapy Center, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
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29
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Matera L. The choice of the antigen in the dendritic cell-based vaccine therapy for prostate cancer. Cancer Treat Rev 2009; 36:131-41. [PMID: 19954892 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2009.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2009] [Revised: 10/29/2009] [Accepted: 11/03/2009] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Tumor antigens (TA) are promising candidates for targeted treatment of prostate cancer (PCa). Critical issues in the preparation of dendritic cell (DC)-based TA vaccines are the DC maturation state and the appropriateness of the TA. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate acide pshosphatase (PAP) presented by DC have produced encouraging results and PAP-loaded DCs are at late-stage development for PCa patients. TAs indispensable for tumor survival and propagation are now emerging as first choice TAs for future vaccines. The increased expression and enzymatic activity of prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) by aggressive prostate tumors is indicative of a unique, selective advantage on the part of cells expressing them. Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and survivin are both involved in tumor cell survival and considered universal TAs. The T cell epitope potential of peptides derived from these TAs has been defined by computer-assisted prediction programs and has been tested in vitro and in vivo in terms of their ability to recruit cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and to be recognised as CTL targets. Results, reviewed here, show that anti-tumor immunity can be induced in vivo by DC loaded with both whole TAs and TA peptides. The promising, but still limited clinical success suggests further exploration of this immune therapy in the more appropriate setting of minimal disease. In advanced stages, vaccine can still be effective when combined with systemic or local cytoreductive therapies, which may overcome antigen specific tolerance and subvert the tumor immunosuppressive environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Matera
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
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30
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Aloysius MM, Mc Kechnie AJ, Robins RA, Verma C, Eremin JM, Farzaneh F, Habib NA, Bhalla J, Hardwick NR, Satthaporn S, Sreenivasan T, El-Sheemy M, Eremin O. Generation in vivo of peptide-specific cytotoxic T cells and presence of regulatory T cells during vaccination with hTERT (class I and II) peptide-pulsed DCs. J Transl Med 2009; 7:18. [PMID: 19298672 PMCID: PMC2674878 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-7-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2009] [Accepted: 03/19/2009] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Optimal techniques for DC generation for immunotherapy in cancer are yet to be established. Study aims were to evaluate: (i) DC activation/maturation milieu (TNF-α +/- IFN-α) and its effects on CD8+ hTERT-specific T cell responses to class I epitopes (p540 or p865), (ii) CD8+ hTERT-specific T cell responses elicited by vaccination with class I alone or both class I and II epitope (p766 and p672)-pulsed DCs, prepared without IFN-α, (iii) association between circulating T regulatory cells (Tregs) and clinical responses. Methods Autologous DCs were generated from 10 patients (HLA-0201) with advanced cancer by culturing CD14+ blood monocytes in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4 supplemented with TNF-α [DCT] or TNF-α and IFN-α [DCTI]. The capacity of the DCs to induce functional CD8+ T cell responses to hTERT HLA-0201 restricted nonapeptides was assessed by MHC tetramer binding and peptide-specific cytotoxicity. Each DC preparation (DCT or DCTI) was pulsed with only one type of hTERT peptide (p540 or p865) and both preparations were injected into separate lymph node draining regions every 2–3 weeks. This vaccination design enabled comparison of efficacy between DCT and DCTI in generating hTERT peptide specific CD8+ T cells and comparison of class I hTERT peptide (p540 or p865)-loaded DCT with or without class II cognate help (p766 and p672) in 6 patients. T regulatory cells were evaluated in 8 patients. Results (i) DCTIs and DCTs, pulsed with hTERT peptides, were comparable (p = 0.45, t-test) in inducing peptide-specific CD8+ T cell responses. (ii) Class II cognate help, significantly enhanced (p < 0.05, t-test) peptide-specific CD8+T cell responses, compared with class I pulsed DCs alone. (iii) Clinical responders had significantly lower (p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney U test) T regs, compared with non-responders. 4/16 patients experienced partial but transient clinical responses during vaccination. Vaccination was well tolerated with minimal toxicity. Conclusion Addition of IFN-α to ex vivo monocyte-derived DCs, did not significantly enhance peptide-specific T cell responses in vivo, compared with TNF-α alone. Class II cognate help significantly augments peptide-specific T cell responses. Clinically favourable responses were seen in patients with low levels of circulating T regs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark M Aloysius
- Section of Surgery, Biomedical Research Unit, Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, University of Nottingham, UK.
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31
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Mennuni C, Ugel S, Mori F, Cipriani B, Iezzi M, Pannellini T, Lazzaro D, Ciliberto G, La Monica N, Zanovello P, Bronte V, Scarselli E. Preventive vaccination with telomerase controls tumor growth in genetically engineered and carcinogen-induced mouse models of cancer. Cancer Res 2009; 68:9865-74. [PMID: 19047167 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-08-1603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The telomerase reverse transcriptase, TERT, is an attractive target for human cancer vaccination because its expression is reactivated in a conspicuous fraction of human tumors. Genetic vaccination with murine telomerase (mTERT) could break immune tolerance in different mouse strains and resulted in the induction of both CD4+ and CD8+ telomerase-specific T cells. The mTERT-derived immunodominant epitopes recognized by CD8+ T cells were further defined in these mouse strains and used to track immune responses. Antitumor efficacy of telomerase-based vaccination was investigated in two cancer models closely resembling human diseases: the TRAMP transgenic mice for prostate cancer and a carcinogen-induced model for colon cancer. TERT overexpression in tumor lesions was shown in both models by immunohistochemistry, thus reinforcing the similarity of these tumors to their human counterparts. Repeated immunizations with mTERT-encoding DNA resulted in a significant delay of tumor formation and progression in both the prostate cancer and the colon cancer models. Moreover, evaluation of the intratumoral infiltrate revealed the presence of telomerase-specific T cells in vaccinated mice. The safety of vaccination was confirmed by the absence of histomorphologic changes on postnecropsy analysis of several organs and lack of adverse effects on blood cell counts. These results indicate that TERT vaccination can elicit antigen-specific immunosurveillance and imply this antigen as a potential candidate for preventive cancer vaccines.
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32
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Beatty GL, Vonderheide RH. Telomerase as a universal tumor antigen for cancer vaccines. Expert Rev Vaccines 2008; 7:881-7. [PMID: 18767939 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.7.7.881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
T-cell immunotherapy relies on the fundamental concept that tumor antigens exist and are presented in the context of MHC molecules for recognition by specific T cells capable of cytolysis. However, heterogeneous expression of most characterized tumor antigens limits the broad applicability of cancer vaccines that target such antigens. Telomerase, on the other hand, represents a prototype of a universal tumor antigen due to both its expression by the vast majority of tumors and its inherent functional involvement in oncogenic transformation. Given these attractive features, the identification of epitopes within human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), the catalytic subunit of telomerase, has led to the investigation of this tumor antigen as a broadly applicable immunological target. Basic immunological analyses have revealed that hTERT is immunogenic, and initial clinical trials of multiple vaccine formulations have demonstrated that hTERT-specific immune responses can be safely induced in patients and impact on clinical outcomes. Second-generation vaccines are now addressing strategies to enhance cellular immunity against hTERT without toxicity. Findings obtained from these trials will inform the possibility of broad-spectrum cancer immunotherapy or even immunoprevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory L Beatty
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 551 BRBII/III, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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33
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Presentation of Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase, a Self-Tumor Antigen, is Down-regulated by Histone Deacetylase Inhibition. Cancer Res 2008; 68:8085-93. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-08-1014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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34
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Abstract
Telomerase is an attractive cancer target as it appears to be required in essentially all tumours for immortalization of a subset of cells, including cancer stem cells. Moreover, differences in telomerase expression, telomere length and cell kinetics between normal and tumour tissues suggest that targeting telomerase would be relatively safe. Clinical trials are ongoing with a potent and specific telomerase inhibitor, GRN163L, and with several versions of telomerase therapeutic vaccines. The prospect of adding telomerase-based therapies to the growing list of new anticancer products is promising, but what are the advantages and limitations of different approaches, and which patients are the most likely to respond?
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Affiliation(s)
- Calvin B Harley
- Geron Corporation, 230 Constitution Drive, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
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35
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Parmiani G, Russo V, Marrari A, Cutolo G, Casati C, Pilla L, Maccalli C, Rivoltini L, Castelli C. Universal and stemness-related tumor antigens: potential use in cancer immunotherapy. Clin Cancer Res 2007; 13:5675-9. [PMID: 17908956 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-07-0879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Parmiani
- Department of Oncology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Italy.
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36
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Domchek SM, Recio A, Mick R, Clark CE, Carpenter EL, Fox KR, DeMichele A, Schuchter LM, Leibowitz MS, Wexler MH, Vance BA, Beatty GL, Veloso E, Feldman MD, Vonderheide RH. Telomerase-specific T-cell immunity in breast cancer: effect of vaccination on tumor immunosurveillance. Cancer Res 2007; 67:10546-55. [PMID: 17974999 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-07-2765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is nearly universally overexpressed in human cancer, contributes critically to oncogenesis, and is recognized by cytotoxic T cells that lyse tumors. CD8+ T cells specific for hTERT naturally occur in certain populations of cancer patients in remission, but it remains poorly understood whether such T cells could contribute to tumor immunosurveillance. To address this issue, we induced hTERT-specific T cells in vivo via peptide vaccination in 19 patients with metastatic breast cancer who otherwise had no measurable T-cell responses to hTERT at baseline. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) were evident after, but not before vaccination, with 4% to 13% of postvaccine CD8+ TIL specific for the immunizing hTERT peptide. Induction of TIL manifested clinically with tumor site pain and pruritus and pathologically with alterations in the tumor microenvironment, featuring histiocytic accumulation and widespread tumor necrosis. hTERT-specific CD8+ T cells were also evident after vaccination in the peripheral blood of patients and exhibited effector functions in vitro including proliferation, IFN-gamma production, and tumor lysis. An exploratory landmark analysis revealed that median overall survival was significantly longer in those patients who achieved an immune response to hTERT peptide compared with patients who did not. Immune response to a control cytomegalovirus peptide in the vaccine did not correlate with survival. These results suggest that hTERT-specific T cells could contribute to the immunosurveillance of breast cancer and suggest novel opportunities for both therapeutic and prophylactic vaccine strategies for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan M Domchek
- Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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37
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Purbhoo MA, Li Y, Sutton DH, Brewer JE, Gostick E, Bossi G, Laugel B, Moysey R, Baston E, Liddy N, Cameron B, Bennett AD, Ashfield R, Milicic A, Price DA, Classon BJ, Sewell AK, Jakobsen BK. The HLA A*0201-restricted hTERT(540-548) peptide is not detected on tumor cells by a CTL clone or a high-affinity T-cell receptor. Mol Cancer Ther 2007; 6:2081-91. [PMID: 17620437 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-07-0092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Tumor-associated human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is expressed in >85% of human tumors but not in most normal cells. As a result, this antigen has received considerable attention from those interested in cancer immunotherapy. Specifically, there has been strong interest in MHC class I-associated peptides derived from hTERT because these are expressed on the cell surface and thus may enable the targeting of tumor cells. Much of this interest has focused on peptide 540-548, ILAKFLHWL, which was predicted to exhibit the strongest binding to the common HLA A*0201 presenting molecule. The hTERT(540-548) peptide is currently being assessed in therapeutic vaccination trials; however, there is controversy surrounding whether it is naturally processed and presented on the surface of neoplastic cells. Here, we generate two highly sensitive reagents to assess the presentation of hTERT(540-548) on tumor cells: (a) a CD8(+) CTL clone, and (b) a recombinant T-cell receptor (TCR) that binds with picomolar affinity and a half-life exceeding 14 h. This TCR enables the identification of individual HLA A2-hTERT(540-548) complexes on the cell surface. The use of both this TCR and the highly antigen-sensitive CTL clone shows that the hTERT(540-548) peptide cannot be detected on the surface of tumor cells, indicating that this peptide is not a naturally presented epitope. We propose that, in future, rigorous methods must be applied for the validation of peptide epitopes used for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco A Purbhoo
- Avidex Ltd., 57-59 Milton Park, Abingdon, OX14 4RX, United Kingdom
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38
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Filaci G, Fenoglio D, Fravega M, Ansaldo G, Borgonovo G, Traverso P, Villaggio B, Ferrera A, Kunkl A, Rizzi M, Ferrera F, Balestra P, Ghio M, Contini P, Setti M, Olive D, Azzarone B, Carmignani G, Ravetti JL, Torre G, Indiveri F. CD8+CD28− T Regulatory Lymphocytes Inhibiting T Cell Proliferative and Cytotoxic Functions Infiltrate Human Cancers. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2007; 179:4323-34. [PMID: 17878327 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.179.7.4323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 185] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Tumor growth is allowed by its ability to escape immune system surveillance. An important role in determining tumor evasion from immune control might be played by tumor-infiltrating regulatory lymphocytes. This study was aimed at characterizing phenotype and function of CD8+ CD28- T regulatory cells infiltrating human cancer. Lymphocytes infiltrating primitive tumor lesion and/or satellite lymph node from a series of 42 human cancers were phenotypically studied and functionally analyzed by suppressor assays. The unprecedented observation was made that CD8+ CD28- T regulatory lymphocytes are almost constantly present and functional in human tumors, being able to inhibit both T cell proliferation and cytotoxicity. CD4+ CD25+ T regulatory lymphocytes associate with CD8+ CD28- T regulatory cells so that the immunosuppressive activity of tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cell subsets, altogether considered, may become predominant. The infiltration of regulatory T cells seems tumor related, being present in metastatic but not in metastasis-free satellite lymph nodes; it likely depends on both in situ generation (via cytokine production) and recruitment from the periphery (via chemokine secretion). Collectively, these results have pathogenic relevance and implication for immunotherapy of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilberto Filaci
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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Prospects and challenges of building a cancer vaccine targeting telomerase. Biochimie 2007; 90:173-80. [PMID: 17716803 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2007.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2007] [Accepted: 07/10/2007] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Despite their origin from self-tissue, tumor cells can be immunogenic and trigger immune responses that can profoundly influence tumor growth and development. Clinically, it may be possible to amplify or induce anti-tumor immune responses to achieve tumor rejection in patients. Increasing data over the last 8 years suggest that the human telomerase reverse transcriptase hTERT is immunogenic both in vitro and in vivo and may be a suitable target for novel cancer immunotherapy. Peptides derived from hTERT are naturally processed by tumors and presented on MHC molecules and trigger effector functions of specific T lymphocytes. Vaccination of cancer patients against hTERT epitopes induces anti-tumor T cells without clinical toxicity. If second-generation vaccines and other strategies are able to generate optimal cellular immunity against hTERT without toxicity in humans, the possibility of broad-spectrum immunotherapy or even immunoprevention therapy of cancer may be possible.
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Cortez-Gonzalez X, Zanetti M. Telomerase immunity from bench to bedside: round one. J Transl Med 2007; 5:12. [PMID: 17324292 PMCID: PMC1839079 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-5-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2006] [Accepted: 02/26/2007] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomerase, a reverse transcriptase primarily devoted to the elongation of telomeres in mammalian cells, is also the first bona fide common tumor antigen. In fact, telomerase is over-expressed in > 85% of tumor cells irrespective of origin and histological type. In the past seven years, there has been considerable interest in assessing telomerase as substrate for vaccination in cancer patients to induce CD8 T cell responses. Because the activation of T cells is restricted by the MHC molecules on antigen presenting cells or tumor cells, the identification of telomerase peptides immunogenic for humans is tightly linked with HLA types. To date, a handful of peptides have been identified through a variety of screening procedures, including bioinformatics prediction, in vivo immunization of HLA transgenic mice, in vitro immunization of PBMC from normal donors and cancer patients, and processing in human tumor cells. Currently, there exist putative peptides for five major HLA types (A2, A1, A3, A24 and B7). Due to the complexity of the HLA system, trials have been performed focusing on the most prevalent HLA type, HLA-A2. Here, we summarize this collective effort and highlight results obtained in Phase 1 trials including a Phase 1 trial performed at the UCSD Cancer Center.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xochtil Cortez-Gonzalez
- The Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0837, USA.
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Abstract
The progression from the cloning of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in 1997 to the first clinical trials of hTERT as an antitumour immunotherapy target has been swift. hTERT is overexpressed in the vast majority of human cancers yet has limited expression in normal adult tissue. It plays a critical role in oncogenesis and may be expressed by cancer stem cells. However, despite being a self antigen, hTERT is immunogenic both in vitro and in vivo. Several Phase I studies of hTERT immunotherapy have been completed in patients with breast, prostate, lung and other cancers, and clinical and immunological results are encouraging. Immunotherapy induces functional, antitumour T cells in patients in the absence of clinical toxicity. The opportunity for vaccinating individuals as an immunoprevention strategy can also be envisioned for hTERT-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica L Carpenter
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 551 BRBII/III, 421 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Adotévi O, Mollier K, Neuveut C, Cardinaud S, Boulanger E, Mignen B, Fridman WH, Zanetti M, Charneau P, Tartour E, Lemonnier F, Langlade-Demoyen P. Immunogenic HLA-B*0702-Restricted Epitopes Derived from Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase That Elicit Antitumor Cytotoxic T-Cell Responses. Clin Cancer Res 2006; 12:3158-67. [PMID: 16707616 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-05-2647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is considered as a potential target for cancer immunotherapy because it is preferentially expressed in tumor cells. To increase the applicability of hTERT-based immunotherapy, we set out to identify CTL epitopes in hTERT restricted by HLA-B*0702 molecule, a common MHC class I allele. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN HLA-B*0702-restricted peptides from hTERT were selected by using a method of epitope prediction and tested for their immunogenicity in human (in vitro) and HLA-B*0702 transgenic mice (in vivo). RESULTS All the six hTERT peptides that were predicted to bind to HLA-B*0702 molecule were found to induce primary human CTL responses in vitro. The peptide-specific CD8+ CTL lines were tested against various hTERT+ tumor cells. Although differences were observed according to the tumor origin, only three CTL lines specific for p277, p342, and p351 peptides exhibited cytotoxicity against tumor cells in a HLA-B*0702-restricted manner. In addition, this cytotoxicity was inhibited by the addition of peptide-loaded cold target cells and indicated that these epitopes are naturally processed and presented on the tumor cells. Further, in vivo studies using humanized HLA-B*0702 transgenic mice showed that all the candidate peptides were able to induce CTL responses after peptide immunization. Furthermore, vaccination with a plasmid DNA encoding full-length hTERT elicited peptide-specific CTL responses, indicating that these epitopes are efficiently processed in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Together with previously reported hTERT epitopes, the identification of new CTL epitopes presented by HLA-B*0702 increases the applicability of hTERT-based immunotherapy to treating cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Adotévi
- Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale U255, Université René Descartes, Unité d'Immunologie Biologique, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Assistance-Public Hôpitaux de Paris, France.
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