Ionizing radiation modulates the phenotype and function of human CD4+ induced regulatory T cells

Radiotherapy modulates autophagy to reshape the tumor immune microenvironment to enhance anti-tumor immunity in esophageal cancer

The combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy exerts synergistic antitumor in a range of human cancers, and also in esophageal cancer. Radiotherapy-induced tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) reprogramming is an essential basis for the synergistic antitumor between radiotherapy and immunotherapy. Radiotherapy can induce autophagy in tumor cells and immune cells of TIME, and autophagy activation is involved in the modification of immunological characteristics of TIME. The TIME landscape of esophageal cancer, especially ESCC, can be affected by radiotherapy or autophagy regulation. In this review, we depicted that local radiotherapy-induced autophagy could promote the maturation, migration, infiltration, and function of immune cells by complicated mechanisms to make TIME from immune "cold" to "hot", resulting in the synergistic antitumor of RT and IO. We argue that unraveling the relevance of radiotherapy-initiated autophagy to driving radiotherapy reprogramming TIME will open new ideas to explore new targets or more efficiently multimodal therapeutic interventions in ESCC.

Pretransplant targeting of TNFRSF25 and CD25 stimulates recipient Tregs in target tissues ameliorating GVHD post-HSCT

The current approach to minimize transplant-associated complications, including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) includes long-term pharmacological immune suppression frequently accompanied by unwanted side effects. Advances in targeted immunotherapies regulating alloantigen responses in the recipient continue to reduce the need for pan-immunosuppression. Here, in vivo targeting of the TNF superfamily receptor 25 (TNFRSF25) and the high affinity IL-2 receptor with a TL1A-Ig fusion protein and low dose IL-2, respectively, was used to pretreat recipient mice prior to allogeneic-HSCT (aHSCT). Pretreatment induced Treg expansion persisting early post-aHSCT leading to diminished GVHD and improved transplant outcomes. Expansion was accompanied by an increase in frequency of stable and functionally active Tregs as evidenced by in vitro assays using cells from major GVHD target tissues including colon, liver, and eye. Importantly, pretreatment supported epithelial cell function/integrity, a diverse microbiome including reduction of pathologic bacteria overgrowth and promotion of butyrate producing bacteria, while maintaining physiologic levels of obligate/facultative anaerobes. Notably, using a sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor agonist to sequester T cells in lymphoid tissues, we found that the increased tissue Treg frequency included resident CD69 + CD103 + FoxP3 + hepatic Tregs. In contrast to infusion of donor Treg cells, the strategy developed here resulted in the presence of immunosuppressive target tissue environments in the recipient prior to the receipt of donor allo-reactive T cells and successful perseveration of GVL responses. We posit strategies that circumvent the need of producing large numbers of ex-vivo manipulated Tregs, may be accomplished through in vivo recipient Treg expansion, providing translational approaches to improve aHSCT outcomes.

Transcriptional Activity of Genes Regulating T-Helper Differentiation in the Accidentally Exposed Population of the Southern Urals

The objective of this work was to study the expression of the TBX21, RORC, GATA3, NFKB1, MAPK8, and STAT3 genes responsible for the regulation of the differentiation of various T-helper subpopulations in individuals chronically exposed to radiation. The object of the study was peripheral blood cells obtained from 120 persons chronically exposed to radiation in a wide range of doses on the Techa River. The mean cumulative absorbed dose to red bone marrow in the examined exposed individuals was 742.7 ± 78.6 mGy (dose range, 73.5-3516.1 mGy); in the comparison group, 17.4 ± 2.2 mGy (dose range, 0.0-55.5 mGy). The subpopulation composition of T-helpers (Th1, Th2, and Th17) was analyzed by flow cytofluorometry. The relative mRNA content of the TBX21, RORC, GATA3, NFKB1, MAPK8, and STAT3 genes was estimated by real-time PCR. The study made it possible to note a decrease in the relative number of T-helpers 2 in the populations of T-helpers of the central memory in the group of chronically exposed persons compared to the comparison group. In the population of T-helpers of the central memory, a statistically significant increase in the relative number of T-helpers 1 was shown, depending on the accumulated absorbed dose to red bone marrow. No changes in mRNA expression of the studied genes were observed. The analysis of the correlation between the expression of GATA3, MAPK8, STAT3, RORC, and TBX21 mRNA and the relative number of cells in subpopulations of T-helper types 1, 2, and 17 in the examined people did not reveal statistically significant patterns.

Abscopal effect: from a rare phenomenon to a new frontier in cancer therapy

Radiotherapy (RT) controls local lesions, meantime it has the capability to induce systemic response to inhibit distant, metastatic, non-radiated tumors, which is referred to as the "abscopal effect". It is widely recognized that radiotherapy can stimulate systemic immune response. This provides a compelling theoretical basis for the combination of immune therapy combined with radiotherapy(iRT). Indeed, this phenomenon has also been observed in clinical treatment, bringing significant clinical benefits to patients, and a series of basic studies are underway to amplify this effect. However, the molecular mechanisms of immune response induced by RT, determination of the optimal treatment regimen for iRT, and how to amplify the abscopal effect. In order to amplify and utilize this effect in clinical management, these key issues require to be well addressed; In this review, we comprehensively summarize the growing consensus and emphasize the emerging limitations of enhancing the abscopal effect with radiotherapy or immunotherapy. Finally, we discuss the prospects and barriers to the current clinical translational applications.

Translational Frontiers and Clinical Opportunities of Immunologically Fitted Radiotherapy

Ionizing radiation can have a wide range of impacts on tumor-immune interactions, which are being studied with the greatest interest and at an accelerating pace by the medical community. Despite its undeniable immunostimulatory potential, it clearly appears that radiotherapy as it is prescribed and delivered nowadays often alters the host's immunity toward a suboptimal state. This may impair the full recovery of a sustained and efficient antitumor immunosurveillance posttreatment. An emerging concept is arising from this awareness and consists of reconsidering the way of designing radiation treatment planning, notably by taking into account the individualized risks of deleterious radio-induced immune alteration that can be deciphered from the planned beam trajectory through lymphocyte-rich organs. In this review, we critically appraise key aspects to consider while planning immunologically fitted radiotherapy, including the challenges linked to the identification of new dose constraints to immune-rich structures. We also discuss how pharmacologic immunomodulation could be advantageously used in combination with radiotherapy to compensate for the radio-induced loss, for example, with (i) agonists of interleukin (IL)2, IL4, IL7, IL9, IL15, or IL21, similarly to G-CSF being used for the prophylaxis of severe chemo-induced neutropenia, or with (ii) myeloid-derived suppressive cell blockers.

Targeting two radiation-induced immunosuppressive pathways to improve the efficacy of normofractionated radiation therapy in a preclinical colorectal cancer model

PURPOSE

We have previously demonstrated in a murine colorectal cancer model that normofractionated RT (normoRT: 18 × 2 Gy) induced MDSC infiltration and PD-L1 expression, while hypofractionated RT (hypoRT: 3 × 8 Gy) induced Treg. Here, we wanted to assess whether the association of normoRT with treatments that target two radiation-induced immunosuppressive pathways (MDSC and PD-L1) could improve tumor control.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Subcutaneous tumors were induced using colon tumor cells (CT26) in immunocompetent mice (BALB/c) and were treated with RT alone (18 × 2 Gy or 3 × 8 Gy), or concomitantly with 5-Fluorouracil (5FU) (10 mg/kg) to deplete MDSC, and/or anti-PD-L1 (10 mg/kg). We assessed the impact of these combinations on tumor growth and immune cells infiltration by flow cytometry. In addition, we performed tumor rechallenge experiments and IFN-γ ELISpots to study the long-term memory response.

RESULTS

Even though tumor growth was significantly delayed in the RT + 5FU compared to 5FU and untreated groups (p < .05), there was no significant difference between RT + 5FU (CRT) and RT alone. The rate of MDSC increased significantly 1 week after the end of normoRT (8.09% ± 1.03%, p < .05) and decreased with the addition of 5FU (3.39% ± 0.69%, p < .05). PD-L1 expressing tumor cells were increased after treatment. Adding anti-PD-L1 significantly delayed tumor growth, achieved the highest complete response rate, and induced a long-lasting protective specific anti-tumor immunity.

CONCLUSIONS

These results tend to demonstrate the interest of inhibiting two radiation-induced immunosuppressive mechanisms. In patients, the combination of normoRT with 5FU is already the standard of care in locally advanced rectal cancer. Adding an anti-PD-L1 to this treatment could show promising results.

The next bastion to be conquered in immunotherapy: microsatellite stable colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and its incidence continues to rise, particularly in developing countries. The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has represented a significant advancement in CRC treatment. Deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) or high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) serves as a biomarker for immunotherapy, with dMMR/MSI-H CRC exhibiting significantly better response rates to immunotherapy compared to proficient mismatch repair (pMMR)or microsatellite stable (MSS) CRC. While some progress has been made in the treatment of pMMR/MSS CRC in recent years, it remains a challenging issue in clinical practice. The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role not only in the development and progression of CRC but also in determining the response to immunotherapy. Understanding the characteristics of the TME in pMMR/MSS CRC could offer new insights to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. In this review, we provide an overview of the current research progress on the TME characteristics and advancements in immunotherapy for pMMR/MSS CRC.

Synergistic treatment strategy: combining CAR-NK cell therapy and radiotherapy to combat solid tumors

Immunotherapy, notably chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) modified natural killer (NK) cell therapy, has shown exciting promise in the treatment of hematologic malignancies due to its unique advantages including fewer side effects, diverse activation mechanisms, and wide availability. However, CAR-NK cell therapies have demonstrated limited efficacy against solid tumors, primarily due to challenges posed by the solid tumor microenvironment. In contrast, radiotherapy, a well-established treatment modality, has been proven to modulate the tumor microenvironment and facilitate immune cell infiltration. With these observations, we hypothesize that a novel therapeutic strategy integrating CAR-NK cell therapy with radiotherapy could enhance the ability to treat solid tumors. This hypothesis aims to address the obstacles CAR-NK cell therapies face within the solid tumor microenvironment and explore the potential efficacy of their combination with radiotherapy. By capitalizing on the synergistic advantages of CAR-NK cell therapy and radiotherapy, we posit that this could lead to improved prognoses for patients with solid tumors.

Combinations of radiotherapy with immunotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is currently based on concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The prognosis of early NPC is better, while the prognosis of advanced NPC is poor. Immunotherapy is becoming increasingly commonly employed in clinical practice as a new strategy for treating malignant tumors. It has shown promising results in the treatment of certain malignant tumors, making it a current clinical research hotspot.

METHODS

This review summarizes the current immunotherapy on NPC, highlighting the application of immunotherapy and radiotherapy in the treatment of NPC.

RESULTS

X-rays can either increase or suppress anti-tumor immune responses through various pathways and mechanisms. Immune checkpoint inhibitors can usually enhance X-ray-induced anti-tumor immune responses. Detecting the immune checkpoint markers and tumor mutation markers, and the functional status of effector cells in patients can aid in the development of individualized treatment that improves the treatment efficacy with reducing drug resistance and adverse reactions. The development of a multivalent vaccine for NPC will help improve the efficacy of the vaccine. Combining techniques that increase the tumor antigens release, such as radiotherapy and oncolytic virus vaccines, may enhance the ability of the immune response.

CONCLUSIONS

To shed further light on the application of immunotherapy in NPC, large pooled studies must accumulate sufficient cases with detailed exposure data.

Radiotherapy remodels the tumor microenvironment for enhancing immunotherapeutic sensitivity

Cancer immunotherapy has transformed traditional treatments, with immune checkpoint blockade being particularly prominent. However, immunotherapy has minimal benefit for patients in most types of cancer and is largely ineffective in some cancers (such as pancreatic cancer and glioma). A synergistic anti-tumor response may be produced through the combined application with traditional tumor treatment methods. Radiotherapy (RT) not only kills tumor cells but also triggers the pro-inflammatory molecules' release and immune cell infiltration, which remodel the tumor microenvironment (TME). Therefore, the combination of RT and immunotherapy is expected to achieve improved efficacy. In this review, we summarize the effects of RT on cellular components of the TME, including T cell receptor repertoires, different T cell subsets, metabolism, tumor-associated macrophages and other myeloid cells (dendritic cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, neutrophils and eosinophils). Meanwhile, non-cellular components such as lactate and extracellular vesicles are also elaborated. In addition, we discuss the impact of different RT modalities on tumor immunity and issues related to the clinical practice of combination therapy.

The Role of Regulatory T Cells in Cancer Treatment Resistance

Despite tremendous progress in cancer treatment in recent years, treatment resistance is still a major challenge for a great number of patients. One of the main causes is regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs), which suppress excessive inflammatory responses via the secretion of immunosuppressive cytokines and upregulate the immune checkpoints. Their abundance causes an immunosuppressive reprogramming of the tumor environment, which is ideal for tumor growth and drug inefficiency. Hence, regiments that can regain tumor immunogenicity are a promising strategy to overcome Tregs-mediated drug resistance. However, to develop effective therapeutic regimens, it is essential to understand the molecular mechanisms of Treg-mediated resistance. In this article, we gathered a comprehensive summary of the current knowledge on molecular mechanisms and the role of Tregs in cancer treatment resistance, including cancer immunotherapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.

A review on lymphocyte radiosensitivity and its impact on radiotherapy

It is well known that radiation therapy causes lymphopenia in patients and that this is correlated with a negative outcome. The mechanism is not well understood because radiation can have both immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive effects. How tumor dose conformation, dose fractionation, and selective lymph node irradiation in radiation therapy does affect lymphopenia and immune response is an active area of research. In addition, understanding the impact of radiation on the immune system is important for the design and interpretation of clinical trials combining radiation with immune checkpoint inhibitors, both in terms of radiation dose and treatment schedules. Although only a few percent of the total lymphocyte population are circulating, it has been speculated that their increased radiosensitivity may contribute to, or even be the primary cause of, lymphopenia. This review summarizes published data on lymphocyte radiosensitivity based on human, small animal, and in vitro studies. The data indicate differences in radiosensitivity among lymphocyte subpopulations that affect their relative contribution and thus the dynamics of the immune response. In general, B cells appear to be more radiosensitive than T cells and NK cells appear to be the most resistant. However, the reported dose-response data suggest that in the context of lymphopenia in patients, aspects other than cell death must also be considered. Not only absolute lymphocyte counts, but also lymphocyte diversity and activity are likely to be affected by radiation. Taken together, the reviewed data suggest that it is unlikely that radiation-induced cell death in lymphocytes is the sole factor in radiation-induced lymphopenia.

Radiation for hematologic malignancies: from cell killing to immune cell priming

Over the past half-century, the role of radiotherapy has been revolutionized, in part, by a shift from intent to directly kill cancer cells to the goal of priming anti-tumor immune responses that attack both irradiated and non-irradiated tumors. Stimulation of anti-tumor immunity depends on the interplay between radiation, the tumor microenvironment, and the host immune system, which is a burgeoning concept in cancer immunology. While the interplay of radiotherapy and the immune system has been primarily studied in solid tumors, we are beginning to understand this interplay in hematological malignancies. The intent of this review is to lead readers through some of the important recent advances in immunotherapy and adoptive cell therapy, highlighting the best available evidence in support of incorporating radiation therapy and immunotherapy into the treatment of hematological malignancies. Evidence is presented regarding how radiation therapy 'converses' with the immune system to stimulate and enhance anti-tumor immune responses. This pro-immunogenic role of radiotherapy can be combined with monoclonal antibodies, cytokines and/or other immunostimulatory agents to enhance the regression of hematological malignancies. Furthermore, we will discuss how radiotherapy facilitates the effectiveness of cellular immunotherapies by acting as a "bridge" that facilitated CAR T cell engraftment and activity. These initial studies suggest radiotherapy may help catalyze a shift from using chemotherapy-intensive treatment to treatment that is "chemo-free" by combining with immunotherapy to target both the radiated and non-irradiated disease sites. This "journey" has opened the door for novel uses of radiotherapy in hematological malignancies due to its ability to prime anti-tumor immune responses which can augment immunotherapy and adoptive cell-based therapy.

Novel Drugs and Radiotherapy in Relapsed Lymphomas: Abscopal Response and Beyond

Combined modality has represented a mainstay of treatment across many lymphoma histologies, given their sensitivity to both multi-agent chemotherapy and intermediate-dose radiotherapy. More recently, several new agents, including immunotherapies, have reshaped the therapeutic panorama of some lymphomas. In parallel, radiotherapy techniques have witnessed substantial improvement, accompanied by a growing understanding that radiation itself comes with an immune-mediated effect. Six decades after a metastatic lesion regression outside the irradiated field was first described, there is increasing evidence that a combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy could boost an abscopal effect. This review focuses on the mechanisms underlying this interaction in the setting of lymphomas, and on the results of pivotal prospective studies. Furthermore, the available evidence on the concomitant use of radiotherapy and small molecules (i.e., lenalidomide, venetoclax, and ibrutinib), as well as brentuximab vedotin, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, is summarized. Currently, combining radiotherapy with new agents in patients who are affected by lymphomas appears feasible, particularly as a bridge to anti-CD19 autologous CAR T-cell infusion. However, more studies are required to assess these combinations, and preliminary data suggest only a synergistic rather than a curative effect.

Ionizing Radiation Selectively Increases CXC Ligand 10 Level via the DNA-Damage-Induced p38 MAPK-STAT1 Pathway in Murine J774A.1 Macrophages

Ionizing radiation (IR) is an important means of tumor treatment in addition to surgery and drugs. Attempts have been made to improve the efficiency of radiotherapy by identifying the various biological effects of IR on cells. Components of the tumor microenvironment, such as macrophages, fibroblasts, and vascular endothelial cells, influence cancer treatment outcomes through communication with tumor cells. In this study, we found that IR selectively increased the production of CXC motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10), which is emerging as an important biomarker for determining the prognosis of anticancer treatments, without changing the levels of CXCL9 and CXCL11 in murine J774A.1 macrophages. Pretreatment with KU55933, an ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase inhibitor, significantly inhibited IR-induced CXCL10 production. In contrast, pretreatment with N-acetyl-cysteine or glutathione, a reactive oxygen species scavenger, did not inhibit IR-induced CXCL10 production. Further, we attempted to identify the intracellular molecular target associated with the IR-induced increase in CXCL10 secretion by J774A.1 macrophages. IR phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) in J774A.1 macrophages, and p38 MAPK and STAT1 were involved in CXCL10 via IR using pharmacological inhibitors (SB203580 and fludarabine, respectively) and the siRNA technique.

Ex vivo analysis of radiation effects on tumor infiltrating immune cells using tumor explants

The response to radiation therapy incorporates both the direct impacts of radiation on cancer cells as well as the immune consequences that can help or hinder control of residual disease. Understanding the response of an individual patient's cancer to radiation, and the impact of radiation on the immune cell subsets present in the tumor prior to radiation therapy, can help identify potential predictors of outcome. Here, we describe a methodological approach to using an explant tumor model to characterize and study the immune cell subsets in murine tumors following exposure to ex vivo radiation treatment. The broader tumor environment incorporates distinct microenvironments consisting of tumor stroma and cancer cell nests, with limited interchange between these zones. Ex vivo analysis of tumor explants ensures that these environments remain intact and allows patient-specific response assessments with a broader range of treatment conditions to find optimal conditions and immunotherapy combinations. While this protocol describes the treatment of murine tumors, with minor variations the same protocol can be used to study and characterize various immune populations following radiation therapy in human tumors.

Involvement of the p38 MAPK-NLRC4-Caspase-1 Pathway in Ionizing Radiation-Enhanced Macrophage IL-1β Production

Macrophages are abundant immune cells in the tumor microenvironment and are crucial in regulating tumor malignancy. We previously reported that ionizing radiation (IR) increases the production of interleukin (IL)-1β in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated macrophages, contributing to the malignancy of colorectal cancer cells; however, the mechanism remained unclear. Here, we show that IR increases the activity of cysteine-aspartate-specific protease 1 (caspase-1), which is regulated by the inflammasome, and cleaves premature IL-1β to mature IL-1β in RAW264.7 macrophages. Irradiated RAW264.7 cells showed increased expression of NLRC4 inflammasome, which controls the activity of caspase-1 and IL-1β production. Silencing of NLRC4 using RNA interference inhibited the IR-induced increase in IL-1β production. Activation of the inflammasome can be regulated by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)s in macrophages. In RAW264.7 cells, IR increased the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase. Moreover, a selective inhibitor of p38 MAPK inhibited LPS-induced IL-1β production and NLRC4 inflammasome expression in irradiated RAW264.7 macrophages. Our results indicate that IR-induced activation of the p38 MAPK-NLRC4-caspase-1 activation pathway in macrophages increases IL-1β production in response to LPS.

The paradox of radiation and T cells in tumors

In this review we consider what appears to be a paradox in immunotherapies based around radiation therapy. The paradox is based on three main points. 1. That T cells are needed for radiation's efficacy; 2. That tumor-specific T cells are enriched in the field of treatment; and 3. That radiation kills T cells in the treatment field. We discuss evidence of the effect of radiation on T cells in the field given their ongoing movement in and out of tissues and the tumor, and how the movement of T cells impacts the treated primary tumor and untreated distant metastases. Given this evidence, we revisit the paradox to understand how the extraordinary efficacy of radiation and immunity in preclinical models is dependent on this radiation sensitive cell.

Radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy: the dawn of cancer treatment

Radiotherapy (RT) is delivered for purposes of local control, but can also exert systemic effect on remote and non-irradiated tumor deposits, which is called abscopal effect. The view of RT as a simple local treatment has dramatically changed in recent years, and it is now widely accepted that RT can provoke a systemic immune response which gives a strong rationale for the combination of RT and immunotherapy (iRT). Nevertheless, several points remain to be addressed such as the interaction of RT and immune system, the identification of the best schedules for combination with immunotherapy (IO), the expansion of abscopal effect and the mechanism to amplify iRT. To answer these crucial questions, we roundly summarize underlying rationale showing the whole immune landscape in RT and clinical trials to attempt to identify the best schedules of iRT. In consideration of the rarity of abscopal effect, we propose that the occurrence of abscopal effect induced by radiation can be promoted to 100% in view of molecular and genetic level. Furthermore, the “radscopal effect” which refers to using low-dose radiation to reprogram the tumor microenvironment may amplify the occurrence of abscopal effect and overcome the resistance of iRT. Taken together, RT could be regarded as a trigger of systemic antitumor immune response, and with the help of IO can be used as a radical and systemic treatment and be added into current standard regimen of patients with metastatic cancer.

Gamma-ray irradiation modulates PGRMC1 expression and the number of CD56+ and FoxP3+ cells in the tumor microenvironment of endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma

Purpose

Although the conventional gamma ray brachytherapy has been successful in treating endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma (EC), the molecular and cellular mechanisms of this anti-tumorigenic response remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated whether gamma ray irradiation induces changes in the number of FoxP3⁺ T-regulatory lymphocytes (Tregs), CD56⁺ natural killer cells (NK), and the expression of progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) in the tumor microenvironment (TME).

Materials and Methods

According to the inclusion criteria, 127 cases were selected and grouped into irradiation-treated (Rad⁺) and control (underwent surgery) groups and analyzed using immunohistochemistry. Predictive prognostic values were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test, ROC analysis, relative risk, log-rank, Spearman rank tests and multivariate Cox’s regression.

Results

We observed significant differences (p < 0.001) between the radiation-treated patients and the control groups in FoxP3⁺ Tregs numbers, CD56⁺ NK cells and PGRMC1 expression. Gamma ray induced a 3.71- and 3.39-fold increase in the infiltration of FoxP3⁺ cells, CD56⁺ NK cells, respectively and 0.0034-fold change in PGRMC1 expression. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed predictive role of the parameters. In the irradiated patients’ group, inverted correlations between clinical unfavorable outcome, FoxP3⁺ Tregs and CD56⁺ NK cells were observed.

Conclusion

Our results suggest an immune-modulating role, specifically by increasing immune cell infiltration, of gamma radiation in the TME which may potentially be utilized as biomarkers in prognostic values.

Highlights of Immunomodulation in Salmonella-Based Cancer Therapy

Bacteria-mediated cancer therapy (BMCT) is an emerging tool that may advance potential approaches in cancer immunotherapy, whereby tumors are eradicated by the hosts’ immune system upon recruitment and activation by bacteria such as Salmonella. This paper provides an emphasis on the immunomodulatory effects that encompasses both the innate and adaptive immune responses inherently triggered by Salmonella. Furthermore, modifications of Salmonella-based treatment in the attempt to improve tumor-specific immune responses including cytokine therapy, gene therapy, and DNA vaccine delivery are likewise discussed. The majority of the findings described herein incorporate cell-based experiments and murine model studies, and only a few accounts describe clinical trials. Salmonella-based cancer therapy is still under development; nonetheless, the pre-clinical research and early-phase clinical trials that have been completed so far have shown promising and convincing results. Certainly, the continuous development of, and innovation on, Salmonella-based therapy could pave the way for its eventual emergence as one of the mainstream therapeutic interventions addressing various types of cancer.

Repurposing Radiation Therapy for Immuno-oncology

Radiation therapy is traditionally used for the local control of tumour growth, but recent studies suggest that radiation therapy can have immunomodulatory properties that can be applied in combination therapy with immunotherapeutic agents. The paradigm of using radiation therapy for immunomodulation in cancer treatment is a rapidly progressing field, with multiple ongoing clinical trials exploring its use in combination with immune checkpoint blockades to induce an abscopal effect. Permutations of radiation therapy regimens, including variations in radiation dosing, radiation planning parameters and radiation modality, are being tested with varying degrees of success. The relative biological effectiveness was a concept introduced in the early days of radiation biology that allows the comparison of local tumour control across various radiation modalities and energies. Similarly, there remains a need for a new concept of comparing the immunological effectiveness of various radiation modalities. In this review, we will provide an overview of immunobiological models for preclinical and clinical monitoring of radiation therapy regimens and introduce the concept of relative immunological effectiveness to compare and screen for immune-activating functions of these regimens.

Hyperprogression After Immunotherapy for Primary Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Ureter: A Case Report

Background

Primary small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNEC) in the ureter is extremely rare and has been sporadically reported in case reports. Its incidence, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes have not yet been thoroughly understood. Here we present a patient with advanced SCNEC in the ureter who was treated by multimodal strategies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first literature report about the clinical outcomes of the combination of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and radiotherapy in patient with primary ureteral SCNEC.

Case Presentation

A 71-year old male presented with right flank pain and gross hematuria. A laparoscopic right nephroureterectomy was performed. He was diagnosed with primary ureteral SCNEC, pT3N0M0. Following the surgery, 4 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin and etoposide (CE) were administered, with disease-free survival (DFS) of 10.1 months. He was then offered 4 cycles of palliative first-line chemotherapy with nedaplatin and irinotecan. The disease was continuously progressed, with progression-free survival (PFS) of 3.7 months. The patient subsequently received second-line treatment with PD-L1 ICI combined with radiotherapy. Unfortunately, hyperprogressive disease was found at the end of treatment. MRI and CT scan showed bilateral pubic bones, right acetabulum, and liver metastases. Without further intervention, the patient died from extensive metastatic disease 2 months after diagnosis, with overall survival (OS) of 18.2 months.

Conclusion

Physicians must be aware of this rare and aggressive carcinoma at its initial presentation. Special attention should be paid to the potential likelihood of hyperprogression during the treatment.

Gamma-radiated immunosuppressed tumor xenograft mice can be a new ideal model in cancer research

Tumor xenograft models can create a high capacity to study human tumors and discover efficient therapeutic approaches. Here, we aimed to develop the gamma-radiated immunosuppressed (GIS) mice as a new kind of tumor xenograft model for biomedical studies. First, 144 mice were divided into the control and treated groups exposed by a medical Cobalt-60 apparatus in 3, 4, and 5 Gy based on the system outputs. Then, 144 BALB/c mice were divided into four groups; healthy, xenograft, radiation, and radiation + xenograft groups. The animals in the xenograft and radiation + xenograft groups have subcutaneously received 3 × 106 MCF-7 cells 24 h post-radiation. On 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after cell injection, the animals were sacrificed. Then, the blood samples and the spleen and tumor tissues were removed for the cellular and molecular analyses. The whole-body gamma radiation had a high immunosuppressive effect on the BALB/c mice from 1 to 21 days post-radiation. The macroscopic and histopathological observations have proved that the created clusters' tumor structure resulted in the xenograft breast tumor. There was a significant increase in tumor size after cell injection until the end of the study. Except for Treg, the spleen level of CD4, CD8, CD19, and Ly6G was significantly decreased in Xen + Rad compared to the Xen alone group on 3 and 7 days. Unlike IL-4 and IL-10, the spleen level of TGF-β, INF-γ, IL-12, and IL-17 was considerably decreased in the Xen + Rad than the Xen alone group on 3 and 7 days. The spleen expressions of the VEGF, Ki67, and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were dramatically increased in the Xen + Rad group compared to the Xen alone on 3, 7, 14, and 21 days. Our results could confirm a new tumor xenograft model via an efficient immune-suppressive potential of the whole-body gamma radiation in mice.

Highlighting the Potential for Chronic Stress to Minimize Therapeutic Responses to Radiotherapy through Increased Immunosuppression and Radiation Resistance

Ionizing radiation has been used in the treatment of cancer for more than 100 years. While often very effective, there is still a great effort in place to improve the efficacy of radiation therapy for controlling the progression and recurrence of tumors. Recent research has revealed the close interaction between nerves and tumor progression, especially nerves of the autonomic nervous system that are activated by a variety of stressful stimuli including anxiety, pain, sleep loss or depression, each of which is likely to be increased in cancer patients. A growing literature now points to a negative effect of chronic stressful stimuli in tumor progression. In this review article, we present data on the potential for adrenergic stress to influence the efficacy of radiation and in particular, its potential to influence the anti-tumor immune response, and the frequency of an "abscopal effect" or the shrinkage of tumors which are outside an irradiated field. We conclude that chronic stress can be a major impediment to more effective radiation therapy through mechanisms involving immunosuppression and increased resistance to radiation-induced tumor cell death. Overall, these data highlight the potential value of stress reduction strategies to improve the outcome of radiation therapy. At the same time, objective biomarkers that can accurately and objectively reflect the degree of stress in patients over prolonged periods of time, and whether it is influencing immunosuppression and radiation resistance, are also critically needed.

Persistent anti-NY-ESO-1-specific T cells and expression of differential biomarkers in a patient with metastatic gastric cancer benefiting from combined radioimmunotherapy treatment: a case report

Combined radioimmunotherapy is currently being investigated to treat patients with cancer. Anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) immunotherapy offers the prospect of long-term disease control in solid tumors. Radiotherapy has the ability to promote immunogenic cell death leading to the release of tumor antigens, increasing infiltration and activation of T cells. New York esophageal squamous cell carcinoma-1 (NY-ESO-1) is a cancer-testis antigen expressed in 20% of advanced gastric cancers and known to induce humoral and cellular immune responses in patients with cancer. We report on the dynamic immune response to the NY-ESO-1 antigen and important immune-related biomarkers in a patient with metastatic gastric cancer treated with radiotherapy combined with anti-PD-1 pembrolizumab antibody.Our patient was an 81-year-old man diagnosed with locally advanced unresectable mismatch repair-deficient gastric cancer having progressed to a metastatic state under a second line of systemic treatment consisting of an anti-PD-1 pembrolizumab antibody. The patient was subsequently treated with local radiotherapy administered concomitantly with anti-PD-1, with a complete response on follow-up radiologic assessment. Disease control was sustained with no further therapy for a period of 12 months before relapse. We have identified an NY-ESO-1-specific interferon-γ (IFN-γ) secretion from the patients' T cells that was significantly increased at response (****p˂0.0001). A novel promiscuous immunogenic NY-ESO-1 peptide P39 (P153-167) restricted to the four patient's HLA-DQ and HLA-DP alleles was identified. Interestingly, this peptide contained the known NY-ESO-1-derived HLA-A2-02:01(P157-165) immunogenic epitope. We have also identified a CD107+ cytotoxic T cell subset within a specific CD8+/HLA-A2-NY-ESO-1 T cell population that was low at disease progression, markedly increased at disease resolution and significantly decreased again at disease re-progression. Finally, we identified two groups of cytokines/chemokines. Group 1 contains five cytokines (IFN-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-5 and IL-6) that were present at disease progression, significantly downregulated at disease resolution and dramatically upregulated again at disease re-progression. Group 2 contains four biomarkers (perforin, soluble FAS, macrophage inflammatory protein-3α and C-X-C motif chemokine 11/Interferon-inducible T Cell Alpha Chemoattractant that were present at disease progression, significantly upregulated at disease resolution and dramatically downregulated again at disease re-progression. Combined radioimmunotherapy can enhance specific T cell responses to the NY-ESO-1 antigen that correlates with beneficial clinical outcome of the patient.

Correction to: Ionizing radiation modulates the phenotype and function of human CD4+ induced regulatory T cells

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.