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Zhao S, Qiu Y, Yuan M, Wang Z. Progress of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor combination therapy in immune treatment for HER2-positive tumors. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2024; 80:625-638. [PMID: 38342825 DOI: 10.1007/s00228-024-03644-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with HER2-positive cancers often face a poor prognosis, and treatment regimens containing anti-HER2 have become the first-line treatment options for breast and gastric cancers. However, these approaches are faced with significant challenges in terms of drug resistance. Hence, it is crucial to explore precise treatment strategies aimed at improving survival outcomes. ADVANCEMENTS IN TREATMENT Over the past few years, there has been rapid advancement in the realm of tumor therapy, particularly with the swift progress of immune checkpoint inhibitors, including PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. They exert anti-tumor effects by disrupting immune-suppressive factors within the tumor microenvironment. However, monotherapy with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors has several limitations. Consequently, numerous studies have explored combinatorial immunotherapeutic strategies and demonstrated highly promising avenues of development. OBJECTIVE This article aims to review the clinical trials investigating PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor combination therapy for HER2-positive tumors. Additionally, it provides a summary of ongoing trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of these combined treatments, with the intention of furnishing valuable insights for the clinical management of HER2-positive cancer. CONCLUSION Combinatorial immunotherapeutic strategies involving PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors hold considerable promise in the treatment of HER2-positive tumors. Continued research efforts and clinical trials are warranted to elucidate optimal treatment regimens that maximize therapeutic benefits while minimizing adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sining Zhao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yiwu Qiu
- School of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Meiqin Yuan
- Department of Colorectal Medicine, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zeng Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- The Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province for Aptamers and Theranostics, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China, 310022.
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2
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Marra A, Chandarlapaty S, Modi S. Management of patients with advanced-stage HER2-positive breast cancer: current evidence and future perspectives. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2024; 21:185-202. [PMID: 38191924 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-023-00849-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Amplification and/or overexpression of ERBB2, the gene encoding HER2, can be found in 15-20% of invasive breast cancers and is associated with an aggressive phenotype and poor clinical outcomes. Relentless research efforts in molecular biology and drug development have led to the implementation of several HER2-targeted therapies, including monoclonal antibodies, tyrosine-kinase inhibitors and antibody-drug conjugates, constituting one of the best examples of bench-to-bedside translation in oncology. Each individual drug class has improved patient outcomes and, importantly, the combinatorial and sequential use of different HER2-targeted therapies has increased cure rates in the early stage disease setting and substantially prolonged survival for patients with advanced-stage disease. In this Review, we describe key steps in the development of the modern paradigm for the treatment of HER2-positive advanced-stage breast cancer, including selecting and sequencing new-generation HER2-targeted therapies, and summarize efficacy and safety outcomes from pivotal studies. We then outline the factors that are currently known to be related to resistance to HER2-targeted therapies, such as HER2 intratumoural heterogeneity, activation of alternative signalling pathways and immune escape mechanisms, as well as potential strategies that might be used in the future to overcome this resistance and further improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Marra
- Division of New Drugs and Early Drug Development, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Sarat Chandarlapaty
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (HOPP), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Breast Medicine Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shanu Modi
- Breast Medicine Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
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3
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Bardhan M, Dey D, Suresh V, Javed B, Venur VA, Joe N, Kalidindi R, Ozair A, Khan M, Mahtani R, Lo S, Odia Y, Ahluwalia MS. An overview of the therapeutic strategies for neoplastic meningitis due to breast cancer: when and why? Expert Rev Neurother 2024; 24:77-103. [PMID: 38145503 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2023.2293223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neoplastic meningitis (NM), also known as leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, is characterized by the infiltration of tumor cells into the meninges, and poses a significant therapeutic challenge owing to its aggressive nature and limited treatment options. Breast cancer is a common cause of NM among solid tumors, further highlighting the urgent need to explore effective therapeutic strategies. This review aims to provide insights into the evolving landscape of NM therapy in breast cancer by collating existing research, evaluating current treatments, and identifying potential emerging therapeutic options. AREAS COVERED This review explores the clinical features, therapeutic strategies, recent advances, and challenges of managing NM in patients with breast cancer. Its management includes multimodal strategies, including systemic and intrathecal chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and supportive care. This review also emphasizes targeted drug options and optimal drug concentrations, and discusses emerging therapies. Additionally, it highlights the variability in treatment outcomes and the potential of combination regimens to effectively manage NM in breast cancer. EXPERT OPINION Challenges in treating NM include debates over clinical trial end points and the management of adverse effects. Drug resistance and low response rates are significant hurdles, particularly inHER2-negative breast cancer. The development of more precise and cost-effective medications with improved selectivity is crucial. Additionally, global efforts are needed for infrastructure development and cancer control considering the diverse nature of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mainak Bardhan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida, Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Vinay Suresh
- King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Binish Javed
- Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Vyshak Alva Venur
- Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Neha Joe
- St John's Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru, India
| | | | - Ahmad Ozair
- Department of Medical Oncology, Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida, Miami, FL, USA
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Reshma Mahtani
- Department of Medical Oncology, Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Simon Lo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yazmin Odia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Manmeet S Ahluwalia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida, Miami, FL, USA
- Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
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4
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Montazeri Aliabadi H, Manda A, Sidgal R, Chung C. Targeting Breast Cancer: The Familiar, the Emerging, and the Uncharted Territories. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1306. [PMID: 37759706 PMCID: PMC10526846 DOI: 10.3390/biom13091306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer became the most diagnosed cancer in the world in 2020. Chemotherapy is still the leading clinical strategy in breast cancer treatment, followed by hormone therapy (mostly used in hormone receptor-positive types). However, with our ever-expanding knowledge of signaling pathways in cancer biology, new molecular targets are identified for potential novel molecularly targeted drugs in breast cancer treatment. While this has resulted in the approval of a few molecularly targeted drugs by the FDA (including drugs targeting immune checkpoints), a wide array of signaling pathways seem to be still underexplored. Also, while combinatorial treatments have become common practice in clinics, the majority of these approaches seem to combine molecularly targeted drugs with chemotherapeutic agents. In this manuscript, we start by analyzing the list of FDA-approved molecularly targeted drugs for breast cancer to evaluate where molecular targeting stands in breast cancer treatment today. We will then provide an overview of other options currently under clinical trial or being investigated in pre-clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamidreza Montazeri Aliabadi
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus, Irvine, CA 92618, USA
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5
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Li B, Jin J, Guo D, Tao Z, Hu X. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Combined with Targeted Therapy: The Recent Advances and Future Potentials. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2858. [PMID: 37345194 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15102858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the therapeutic landscape of cancer and have been widely approved for use in the treatment of diverse solid tumors. Targeted therapy has been an essential part of cancer treatment for decades, and in most cases, a special drug target is required. Numerous studies have confirmed the synergistic effect of combining ICIs with targeted therapy. For example, triple therapy of PD-L1 inhibitor atezolizumab plus BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib and MEK inhibitor cobimetinib has been approved as the first-line treatment in advanced melanoma patients with BRAFV600 mutations. However, not all combinations of ICIs and targeted therapy work. Combining ICIs with EGFR inhibitors in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR mutations only triggered toxicities and did not improve efficacy. Therefore, the efficacies of combinations of ICIs and different targeted agents are distinct. This review firstly and comprehensively covered the current status of studies on the combination of ICIs mainly referring to PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors and targeted drugs, including angiogenesis inhibitors, EGFR/HER2 inhibitors, PARP inhibitors and MAPK/ERK signaling pathway inhibitors, in the treatment of solid tumors. We discussed the underlying mechanisms, clinical efficacies, side effects, and potential predictive biomarkers to give an integrated view of the combination strategy and provide perspectives for future directions in solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Li
- Department of Breast and Urologic Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Juan Jin
- Department of Breast and Urologic Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Duancheng Guo
- Department of Breast and Urologic Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhonghua Tao
- Department of Breast and Urologic Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xichun Hu
- Department of Breast and Urologic Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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6
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Mercogliano MF, Bruni S, Mauro FL, Schillaci R. Emerging Targeted Therapies for HER2-Positive Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15071987. [PMID: 37046648 PMCID: PMC10093019 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15071987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the leading cause of death. HER2 overexpression is found in approximately 20% of breast cancers and is associated with a poor prognosis and a shorter overall survival. Tratuzumab, a monoclonal antibody directed against the HER2 receptor, is the standard of care treatment. However, a third of the patients do not respond to therapy. Given the high rate of resistance, other HER2-targeted strategies have been developed, including monoclonal antibodies such as pertuzumab and margetuximab, trastuzumab-based antibody drug conjugates such as trastuzumab-emtansine (T-DM1) and trastuzumab-deruxtecan (T-DXd), and tyrosine kinase inhibitors like lapatinib and tucatinib, among others. Moreover, T-DXd has proven to be of use in the HER2-low subtype, which suggests that other HER2-targeted therapies could be successful in this recently defined new breast cancer subclassification. When patients progress to multiple strategies, there are several HER2-targeted therapies available; however, treatment options are limited, and the potential combination with other drugs, immune checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cells, CAR-NK, CAR-M, and vaccines is an interesting and appealing field that is still in development. In this review, we will discuss the highlights and pitfalls of the different HER2-targeted therapies and potential combinations to overcome metastatic disease and resistance to therapy.
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7
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Hu Y, Li Y, Yao Z, Huang F, Cai H, Liu H, Zhang X, Zhang J. Immunotherapy: Review of the Existing Evidence and Challenges in Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15030563. [PMID: 36765522 PMCID: PMC9913569 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15030563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is a representative malignant tumor that affects women across the world, and it is the main cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Although a large number of treatment methods have been developed for BC in recent years, the results are sometimes unsatisfying. In recent years, treatments of BC have been expanded with immunotherapy. In our article, we list some tumor markers related to immunotherapy for BC. Moreover, we introduce the existing relatively mature immunotherapy and the markers' pathogenesis are involved. The combination of immunotherapy and other therapies for BC are introduced in detail, including the combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy, the combined use of immunosuppressants and chemotherapy drugs, immunotherapy and molecular targeted therapy. We summarize the clinical effects of these methods. In addition, this paper also makes a preliminary exploration of the combination of immunotherapy, radiotherapy, and nanotechnology for BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Hu
- Department of Breast Cancer, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Radiology, The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Zhangcheng Yao
- Department of Radiology, The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Fenglin Huang
- Department of Radiology, The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Hongzhou Cai
- Department of Radiology, The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Hanyuan Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210012, China
| | - Xiaoyi Zhang
- Department of Radiology, The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
- Correspondence: (X.Z.); (J.Z.)
| | - Junying Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Correspondence: (X.Z.); (J.Z.)
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8
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Taurelli Salimbeni B, Ferraro E, Boscolo Bielo L, Curigliano G. Innovative Therapeutic Approaches for Patients with HER2-Positive Breast Cancer. Cancer Treat Res 2023; 188:237-281. [PMID: 38175349 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-33602-7_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor, has been described in about 15-20% of breast cancer (BC) and is associated with poor outcomes. Trastuzumab is the first anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody (mAB) that blocks receptor activity but it also activates immune response against cancer cells, thus, revolutionizing the prognosis of patients with HER2-positive BC. Over the years, new therapies have been developed, including other mAbs and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) that required multimodal approaches with chemotherapy to optimize their anticancer activity. This chapter gives a comprehensive overview of the last advancements including new approaches and future combinations, which seem to be very promising in overcoming resistance to the traditional anti-HER2 treatments. A modern therapeutic algorithm should include treatment options based on tumour patterns and a patient-centred approach. A proper patient's selection is crucial to derive maximal benefits from a treatment strategy and emerging biomarkers should be integrated along with the HER2 status, which is currently the only validated biomarker in the context of HER2-positive disease. These biomarkers might include molecular features with reported prognostic/predictive significance, such as phosphatidylinositol 3' -kinase (PI3K) or mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1), and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), which all affect prognosis and response to treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Taurelli Salimbeni
- Division of New Drugs and Early Drug Development for Innovative Therapies, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Via G. Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Oncology Unit, "La Sapienza" University of Rome, Azienda Ospedaliera Sant'Andrea, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuela Ferraro
- Breast Cancer Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Luca Boscolo Bielo
- Division of New Drugs and Early Drug Development for Innovative Therapies, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Via G. Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hematology-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Curigliano
- Division of New Drugs and Early Drug Development for Innovative Therapies, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Via G. Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Oncology and Hematology-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
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9
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Padmanabhan R, Kheraldine H, Gupta I, Meskin N, Hamad A, Vranic S, Al Moustafa AE. Quantification of the growth suppression of HER2+ breast cancer colonies under the effect of trastuzumab and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor. Front Oncol 2022; 12:977664. [PMID: 36568154 PMCID: PMC9769711 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.977664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB)-based therapy is revolutionizing cancer treatment by fostering successful immune surveillance and effector cell responses against various types of cancers. However, patients with HER2+ cancers are yet to benefit from this therapeutic strategy. Precisely, several questions regarding the right combination of drugs, drug modality, and effective dose recommendations pertaining to the use of ICB-based therapy for HER2+ patients remain unanswered. Methods In this study, we use a mathematical modeling-based approach to quantify the growth inhibition of HER2+ breast cancer (BC) cell colonies (ZR75) when treated with anti-HER2; trastuzumab (TZ) and anti-PD-1/PD-L1 (BMS-202) agents. Results and discussion Our data show that a combination therapy of TZ and BMS-202 can significantly reduce the viability of ZR75 cells and trigger several morphological changes. The combination decreased the cell's invasiveness along with altering several key pathways, such as Akt/mTor and ErbB2 compared to monotherapy. In addition, BMS-202 causes dose-dependent growth inhibition of HER2+ BC cell colonies alone, while this effect is significantly improved when used in combination with TZ. Based on the in-vitro monoculture experiments conducted, we argue that BMS-202 can cause tumor growth suppression not only by mediating immune response but also by interfering with the growth signaling pathways of HER2+BC. Nevertheless, further studies are imperative to substantiate this argument and to uncover the potential crosstalk between PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and HER2 growth signaling pathways in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hadeel Kheraldine
- College of Medicine, Qatar University (QU) Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar,Biomedical Research Centre, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ishita Gupta
- College of Medicine, Qatar University (QU) Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar,Biomedical Research Centre, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Nader Meskin
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar,*Correspondence: Nader Meskin, ; Ala-Eddin Al Moustafa,
| | - Anas Hamad
- Pharmaceutical Department at Hamad Medical Corporation, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Semir Vranic
- College of Medicine, Qatar University (QU) Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ala-Eddin Al Moustafa
- College of Medicine, Qatar University (QU) Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar,Biomedical Research Centre, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar,*Correspondence: Nader Meskin, ; Ala-Eddin Al Moustafa,
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10
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Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Novel Immunotherapy Approaches for Breast Cancer. Curr Oncol Rep 2022; 24:1801-1819. [PMID: 36255603 DOI: 10.1007/s11912-022-01339-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To critically review the existing evidence on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in early-stage and metastatic breast cancer and discuss emerging strategies in the different breast cancer subtypes. RECENT FINDINGS Immunotherapy has become one of the major milestones in contemporary oncology, revolutionizing the treatment of multiple solid tumors. ICI agents combined with chemotherapy have demonstrated significant efficacy in both early-stage and metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. However, only a subgroup of patients responds to those agents and some associated toxicities, although infrequent, can be life-disabling. Emerging data from immunotherapy studies in advanced hormone receptor-positive (HR +) breast cancer as well as HER2-positive disease are arising with mixed results. Although breast cancer has not classically been considered a hot tumor, ICIs have proven to be effective in a subset of breast cancer patients. However, much remains to be learned, and the identification of new biomarkers beyond PD-L1 expression is essential not only to improve the efficacy of ICI but also to identify patients who can avoid them, together with their toxicities and costs.
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11
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Chow CY, Lie EF, Wu CH, Chow LW. Clinical implication of genetic composition and molecular mechanism on treatment strategies of HER2-positive breast cancers. Front Oncol 2022; 12:964824. [PMID: 36387174 PMCID: PMC9659858 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.964824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The current clinical management model of HER2-positive breast cancers is commonly based on guidelines, which in turn are based on the design and outcome of clinical trials. While this model is useful to most practicing clinicians, the treatment outcome of individual patient is not certain at the start of treatment. As the understanding of the translational research of carcinogenesis and the related changes in cancer genetics and tumor microenvironment during treatment is critical in the selection of right choice of treatment to maximize the successful clinical outcome for the patient, this review article intends to discuss the latest developments in the genetic and molecular mechanisms of cancer progression and treatment resistance, and how they influence the planning of the treatment strategies of HER2-positive breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Y.C. Chow
- UNIMED Medical Institute, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | | | - Cheng-Hsun Wu
- Department of Anatomy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Louis W.C. Chow
- UNIMED Medical Institute, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Organisation for Oncology and Translational Research, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- *Correspondence: Louis W.C. Chow,
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12
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Waks AG, Keenan TE, Li T, Tayob N, Wulf GM, Richardson ET, Attaya V, Anderson L, Mittendorf EA, Overmoyer B, Winer EP, Krop IE, Agudo J, Van Allen EM, Tolaney SM. Phase Ib study of pembrolizumab in combination with trastuzumab emtansine for metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2022-005119. [PMID: 36252998 PMCID: PMC9577940 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Preclinical and clinical data support potential synergy between anti-HER2 therapy plus immune checkpoint blockade. The safety and tolerability of trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) combined with pembrolizumab is unknown. Methods This was a single-arm phase Ib trial (registration date January 26, 2017) of T-DM1 plus pembrolizumab in metastatic, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer. Eligible patients had HER2-positive, metastatic breast cancer previously treated with taxane, trastuzumab, and pertuzumab, and were T-DM1-naïve. A dose de-escalation design was used, with a dose-finding cohort followed by an expansion cohort at the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D), with mandatory baseline biopsies. The primary endpoint was safety and tolerability. Secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS). Immune biomarkers were assessed using histology, protein/RNA expression, and whole exome sequencing. Associations between immune biomarkers and treatment response, and biomarker changes before and during treatment, were explored. Results 20 patients received protocol therapy. There were no dose-limiting toxicities. The RP2D was 3.6 mg/kg T-DM1 every 21 days plus 200 mg pembrolizumab every 21 days. 85% of patients experienced treatment-related adverse events (AEs) ≥grade 2, 20% of patients experienced grade 3 AEs, and no patients experienced grade >4 AEs. Four patients (20%) experienced pneumonitis (three grade 2 events; one grade 3 event). ORR was 20% (95% CI 5.7% to 43.7%), and median PFS was 9.6 months (95% CI 2.8 to 16.0 months). Programmed cell death ligand-1 and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes did not correlate with response in this small cohort. Conclusions T-DM1 plus pembrolizumab was a safe and tolerable regimen. Ongoing trials will define if there is a role for checkpoint inhibition in the management of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Trial registration number NCT03032107.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrienne G Waks
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tanya E Keenan
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tianyu Li
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nabihah Tayob
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gerburg M Wulf
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Edward T Richardson
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | - Elizabeth A Mittendorf
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Beth Overmoyer
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Eric P Winer
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Ian E Krop
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Judith Agudo
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Eliezer M Van Allen
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sara M Tolaney
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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13
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Wu X, Yang H, Yu X, Qin JJ. Drug-resistant HER2-positive breast cancer: Molecular mechanisms and overcoming strategies. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1012552. [PMID: 36210846 PMCID: PMC9540370 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1012552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies and the leading cause of cancer-related death in women. HER2 overexpression is a factor for poor prognosis in breast cancer, and anti-HER2 therapy improves survival in these patients. A dual-targeted combination of pertuzumab and trastuzumab, alongside cytotoxic chemotherapy, constitutes the primary treatment option for individuals with early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancer. Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) also increase the prognosis for patients with metastatic breast cancer. However, resistance to targeted therapy eventually occurs. Therefore, it is critical to investigate how HER2-positive breast cancer is resistant to targeted therapy and to develop novel drugs or strategies to overcome the resistance simultaneously. This review aims to provide a comprehensive discussion of the HER2-targeted agents currently in clinical practice, the molecular mechanisms of resistance to these drugs, and the potential strategies for overcoming resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Xingfei Yu
- *Correspondence: Xingfei Yu, ; Jiang-Jiang Qin,
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14
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Viker KB, Steele MB, Iankov ID, Concilio SC, Ammayappan A, Bolon B, Jenks NJ, Goetz MP, Panagioti E, Federspiel MJ, Liu MC, Peng KW, Galanis E. Preclinical safety assessment of MV-s-NAP, a novel oncolytic measles virus strain armed with an H . pylori immunostimulatory bacterial transgene. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2022; 26:532-546. [PMID: 36092362 PMCID: PMC9437807 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Despite recent therapeutic advances, metastatic breast cancer (MBC) remains incurable. Engineered measles virus (MV) constructs based on the attenuated MV Edmonston vaccine platform have demonstrated significant oncolytic activity against solid tumors. The Helicobacter pylori neutrophil-activating protein (NAP) is responsible for the robust inflammatory reaction in gastroduodenal mucosa during bacterial infection. NAP attracts and activates immune cells at the site of infection, inducing expression of pro-inflammatory mediators. We engineered an MV strain to express the secretory form of NAP (MV-s-NAP) and showed that it exhibits anti-tumor and immunostimulatory activity in human breast cancer xenograft models. In this study, we utilized a measles-infection-permissive mouse model (transgenic IFNAR KO-CD46Ge) to evaluate the biodistribution and safety of MV-s-NAP. The primary objective was to identify potential toxic side effects and confirm the safety of the proposed clinical doses of MV-s-NAP prior to a phase I clinical trial of intratumoral administration of MV-s-NAP in patients with MBC. Both subcutaneous delivery (corresponding to the clinical trial intratumoral administration route) and intravenous (worst case scenario) delivery of MV-s-NAP were well tolerated: no significant clinical, laboratory or histologic toxicity was observed. This outcome supports the safety of MV-s-NAP for oncolytic virotherapy of MBC. The first-in-human clinical trial of MV-s-NAP in patients with MBC (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04521764) was subsequently activated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly B. Viker
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Michael B. Steele
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Ianko D. Iankov
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | | | - Arun Ammayappan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | | | - Nathan J. Jenks
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | | | - Eleni Panagioti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | | | - Minetta C. Liu
- Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Kah Whye Peng
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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15
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Liu K, Mao X, Li T, Xu Z, An R. Immunotherapy and immunobiomarker in breast cancer: current practice and future perspectives. Am J Cancer Res 2022; 12:3532-3547. [PMID: 36119833 PMCID: PMC9442024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the new cancer cases and resulting deaths among women worldwide, breast cancer is the most significant threat to women's health. In recent years, immunotherapy was initially used to treat patients with metastatic breast cancer, where it demonstrated its unique value by providing a novel way to improve therapeutic effects and prolong survival time. With the development of clinical trials related to immunotherapy for breast cancer, tumour vaccines, such as DNA vaccines, have been observed to improve the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients. Monoclonal antibodies have also shown good efficacy, and adoptive cell therapies, such as CAR-T, exhibit strong tumour killing ability and good safety, and thus, these therapies may comprise a new strategy for the treatment of breast cancer. These breakthrough successes have promoted the achievement of "individualized" breast cancer treatment. Moreover, a recent study showed that patients with various cancer types with a higher tumour mutational burden (TMB) are more likely to benefit from immunotherapy. As research progresses, TMB may also demonstrate a certain clinical significance in the treatment of breast cancer. This paper reviews the latest research progress on breast cancer immunotherapy and the predictive value and application status of TMB in immunotherapy regimens for breast cancer patients to provide a reference for further in-depth studies of breast cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangsheng Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityXi’an 710061, Shannxi, P. R. China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Women’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care HospitalNanjing 210029, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Xiaodong Mao
- Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineNanjing 210028, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Taiping Li
- Department of Neuro-Psychiatric Institute, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing 210029, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Zhirong Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhou 215006, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Ruifang An
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityXi’an 710061, Shannxi, P. R. China
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16
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Zheng D, Hou X, Yu J, He X. Combinatorial Strategies With PD-1/PD-L1 Immune Checkpoint Blockade for Breast Cancer Therapy: Mechanisms and Clinical Outcomes. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:928369. [PMID: 35935874 PMCID: PMC9355550 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.928369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As an emerging antitumor strategy, immune checkpoint therapy is one of the most promising anticancer therapies due to its long response duration. Antibodies against the programmed death-1 (PD-1) and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) axis have been extensively applied to various cancers and have demonstrated unprecedented efficacy. Nevertheless, a poor response to monotherapy with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 has been observed in metastatic breast cancer. Combination therapy with other standard treatments is expected to overcome this limitation of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in the treatment of breast cancer. In the present review, we first illustrate the biological functions of PD-1/PD-L1 and their role in maintaining immune homeostasis as well as protecting against immune-mediated tissue damage in a variety of microenvironments. Several combination therapy strategies for the combination of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade with standard treatment modalities have been proposed to solve the limitations of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, antiangiogenic therapy, and other immunotherapies. The corresponding clinical trials provide valuable estimates of treatment effects. Notably, several combination options significantly improve the response and efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. This review provides a PD-1/PD-L1 clinical trial landscape survey in breast cancer to guide the development of more effective and less toxic combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Zheng
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, Clinical Research Center for Breast, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaolin Hou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Yu
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, Clinical Research Center for Breast, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiujing He
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, Clinical Research Center for Breast, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Xiujing He,
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17
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Targeted Therapeutic Options and Future Perspectives for HER2-Positive Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14143305. [PMID: 35884366 PMCID: PMC9320771 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14143305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The development of several antiHuman Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) treatments over the last few years has improved the landscape of HER2-positive breast cancer. Despite this, relapse is still the main issue in HER2-positive breast cancer. The reasons for therapeutic failure lie in the heterogeneity of the disease itself, as well as in the drug resistance mechanisms. In this review, we intended to understand the milestones that have had an impact on this disease up to their implementation in clinical practice. In addition, understanding the underlying molecular biology of HER2-positive disease is essential for the optimization and personalization of the different treatment options. For this reason, we focused on two relevant aspects, which are triple-positive disease and the role that modulation of the immune response might play in treatment and prognosis. Abstract Despite the improvement achieved by the introduction of HER2-targeted therapy, up to 25% of early human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer (BC) patients will relapse. Beyond trastuzumab, other agents approved for early HER2+ BC include the monoclonal antibody pertuzumab, the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) trastuzumab-emtansine (T-DM1) and the reversible HER2 inhibitor lapatinib. New agents, such as trastuzumab-deruxtecan or tucatinib in combination with capecitabine and trastuzumab, have also shown a significant improvement in the metastatic setting. Other therapeutic strategies to overcome treatment resistance have been explored in HER2+ BC, mainly in HER2+ that also overexpress estrogen receptors (ER+). In ER+ HER2+ patients, target therapies such as phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) pathway inhibition or cyclin-dependent kinases 4/6 blocking may be effective in controlling downstream of HER2 and many of the cellular pathways associated with resistance to HER2-targeted therapies. Multiple trials have explored these strategies with some promising results, and probably, in the next years conclusive results will succeed. In addition, HER2+ BC is known to be more immunogenic than other BC subgroups, with high variability between tumors. Different immunotherapeutic agents such as HER-2 therapy plus checkpoint inhibitors, or new vaccines approaches have been investigated in this setting, with promising but controversial results obtained to date.
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18
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Moragon S, Hernando C, Martinez-Martinez MT, Tapia M, Ortega-Morillo B, Lluch A, Bermejo B, Cejalvo JM. Immunological Landscape of HER-2 Positive Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:3167. [PMID: 35804943 PMCID: PMC9265068 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14133167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the biological aspects of immune response in HER2+ breast cancer is crucial to implementing new treatment strategies in these patients. It is well known that anti-HER2 therapy has improved survival in this population, yet a substantial percentage may relapse, creating a need within the scientific community to uncover resistance mechanisms and determine how to overcome them. This systematic review indicates the immunological mechanisms through which trastuzumab and other agents target cancer cells, also outlining the main trials studying immune checkpoint blockade. Finally, we report on anti-HER2 vaccines and include a figure exemplifying their mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Moragon
- Department of Medical Oncology, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain; (S.M.); (C.H.); (M.T.M.-M.); (M.T.); (B.O.-M.); (A.L.); (B.B.)
| | - Cristina Hernando
- Department of Medical Oncology, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain; (S.M.); (C.H.); (M.T.M.-M.); (M.T.); (B.O.-M.); (A.L.); (B.B.)
| | - Maria Teresa Martinez-Martinez
- Department of Medical Oncology, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain; (S.M.); (C.H.); (M.T.M.-M.); (M.T.); (B.O.-M.); (A.L.); (B.B.)
| | - Marta Tapia
- Department of Medical Oncology, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain; (S.M.); (C.H.); (M.T.M.-M.); (M.T.); (B.O.-M.); (A.L.); (B.B.)
| | - Belen Ortega-Morillo
- Department of Medical Oncology, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain; (S.M.); (C.H.); (M.T.M.-M.); (M.T.); (B.O.-M.); (A.L.); (B.B.)
| | - Ana Lluch
- Department of Medical Oncology, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain; (S.M.); (C.H.); (M.T.M.-M.); (M.T.); (B.O.-M.); (A.L.); (B.B.)
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III, CIBERONC (Centro De Investigacion Biomedica En Red De Cancer), 28220 Madrid, Spain
| | - Begoña Bermejo
- Department of Medical Oncology, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain; (S.M.); (C.H.); (M.T.M.-M.); (M.T.); (B.O.-M.); (A.L.); (B.B.)
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III, CIBERONC (Centro De Investigacion Biomedica En Red De Cancer), 28220 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Miguel Cejalvo
- Department of Medical Oncology, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain; (S.M.); (C.H.); (M.T.M.-M.); (M.T.); (B.O.-M.); (A.L.); (B.B.)
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III, CIBERONC (Centro De Investigacion Biomedica En Red De Cancer), 28220 Madrid, Spain
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19
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Clinical trial data and emerging strategies: HER2-positive breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2022; 193:281-291. [PMID: 35397080 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-022-06575-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
A deeper insight into tumor biology and HER2 signaling has led to the development of novel anti-HER2 drugs that have significantly improved the prognosis of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. The breast cancer immune microenvironment has emerged as a potential prognostic factor. Moreover, the host immune system not only seems to play a critical role in the prognosis of HER2-positive breast cancer, but also seems to modulate treatment response to some HER2-targeted agents. Here, we review the latest evidence of the role of immunotherapy in HER2-positive breast cancer and present emerging strategies.
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20
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Elliott MJ, Wilson B, Cescon DW. Current Treatment and Future Trends of Immunotherapy in Breast Cancer. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2022; 22:667-677. [PMID: 35301950 DOI: 10.2174/1568009622666220317091723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy continues to redefine the solid tumor treatment landscape with inhibitors of the PD-L1/PD-1 immune checkpoint having the most widespread impact. As the most common cancer diagnosed worldwide, there is significant interest in the development of immunotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer in both the early and metastatic settings. Recently reported results of several clinical trials have identified potential roles for immunotherapy agents alone or in combination with standard treatment for early and metastatic disease. While trials to date have been promising, immunotherapy thus far has been shown to benefit only a select group of patients with breast cancer, defined by tumor subtype, PD-L1 expression, and line of therapy. With over 250 trials ongoing, emerging data will enable the further refinement of breast cancer immunotherapy strategies. The integration of multiple putative biomarkers and consideration of dynamic markers of early response or resistance may inform optimal patient selection for immunotherapy investigation and integration into clinical practice. This review will summarize the current evidence for immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) in the treatment of early and metastatic breast cancer and highlight current and potential future biomarkers of therapeutic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell J Elliott
- Division of Medical Oncology & Hematology, Department of Medicine, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brooke Wilson
- Division of Medical Oncology & Hematology, Department of Medicine, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David W Cescon
- Division of Medical Oncology & Hematology, Department of Medicine, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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21
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Wynn CS, Tang SC. Anti-HER2 therapy in metastatic breast cancer: many choices and future directions. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2022; 41:193-209. [PMID: 35142964 PMCID: PMC8924093 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-022-10021-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Metastatic HER2 + breast cancer is an expanding area of drug development and research, with three new drugs approved in 2020 alone. While first-line therapy is well-established for metastatic HER2 + breast cancer, the standard of care for second-line therapy will likely be changing soon based on the results of the DESTINY-Breast03 trial. In the third-line setting, many options are available. Considerations in choosing between regimens in the third-line include resistance to trastuzumab, the presence of brain metastases, and tolerability. High rates of resistance exist in this setting particularly due to expression of p95, a truncated form of HER2 that constitutively activates downstream signaling pathways. We suggest a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-based regimen because of the activity of TKIs in brain metastases and in p95-expressing tumors. Attempts to overcome resistance to anti-HER2 therapies with PI3K inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors, and CDK 4/6 inhibitors are an active area of research. In the future, biomarkers are needed to help predict which therapies patients may benefit from the most. We review the many new drugs in development, including those with novel mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie S Wynn
- Cancer Center and Research Institute, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Guyton Research Building, G-651-07, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - Shou-Ching Tang
- Cancer Center and Research Institute, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Guyton Research Building, G-651-07, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA.
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22
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Kyriazoglou A, Kaparelou M, Goumas G, Liontos M, Zakopoulou R, Zografos E, Zygogianni A, Dimopoulos MA, Zagouri F. Immunotherapy in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review. Breast Care (Basel) 2022; 17:63-70. [PMID: 35355696 PMCID: PMC8914190 DOI: 10.1159/000514860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The clinical outcome of HER2-positive breast cancer patients changed with the use of anti-Her therapies, though it still remains an aggressive and fatal disease. Implementation of immune checkpoint inhibitors in HER2-positive Breast cancer is a concept supported by the reported biological and preclinical data. Methods We conducted a systematic review of the current literature involving immune checkpoint inhibitors alone or in combination with targeted therapies or chemotherapy finalized or running in HER2-positive breast cancer. Results Twelve clinical trials and 2 case reports were identified in our study. Conclusion The reported clinical trials highlight that checkpoint inhibition seems to be promising in metastatic, neoadjuvant, and adjuvant settings of HER2-positive breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios Kyriazoglou
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, General Hospital Alexandra, Athens, Greece,*Anastasios Kyriazoglou Department of Clinical Therapeutics, General Hospital Alexandra Vasilisis Sofias 80 GR-11528 Athens (Greece)
| | - Maria Kaparelou
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, General Hospital Alexandra, Athens, Greece
| | - Georgios Goumas
- Department of Medical Oncology, Aghios Savvas Anticancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Michael Liontos
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, General Hospital Alexandra, Athens, Greece
| | - Roubini Zakopoulou
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, General Hospital Alexandra, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Zografos
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Laboratory of Biology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Anna Zygogianni
- Department of Radiology, General Hospital Aretaieion, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Flora Zagouri
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, General Hospital Alexandra, Athens, Greece
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23
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Musolino A, Gradishar WJ, Rugo HS, Nordstrom JL, Rock EP, Arnaldez F, Pegram MD. Role of Fcγ receptors in HER2-targeted breast cancer therapy. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2021-003171. [PMID: 34992090 PMCID: PMC8739678 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Several therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), including those targeting epidermal growth factor receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and CD20, mediate fragment crystallizable gamma receptor (FcγR)–dependent activities as part of their mechanism of action. These activities include induction of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), which are innate immune mechanisms of cancer cell elimination. FcγRs are distinguished by their affinity for the Fc fragment, cell distribution, and type of immune response they induce. Activating FcγRIIIa (CD16A) on natural killer cells plays a crucial role in mediating ADCC, and activating FcγRIIa (CD32A) and FcγRIIIa on macrophages are important for mediating ADCP. Polymorphisms in FcγRIIIa and FcγRIIa generate variants that bind to the Fc portion of antibodies with different affinities. This results in differential FcγR-mediated activities associated with differential therapeutic outcomes across multiple clinical settings, from early stage to metastatic disease, in patients with HER2+ breast cancer treated with the anti-HER2 mAb trastuzumab. Trastuzumab has, nonetheless, revolutionized HER2+ breast cancer treatment, and several HER2-directed mAbs have been developed using Fc glyco-engineering or Fc protein-engineering to enhance FcγR-mediated functions. An example of an approved anti-HER2 Fc-engineered chimeric mAb is margetuximab, which targets the same epitope as trastuzumab, but features five amino acid substitutions in the IgG 1 Fc domain that were deliberately introduced to increase binding to activating FcγRIIIa and decrease binding to inhibitory FcγRIIb (CD32B). Margetuximab enhances Fc-dependent ADCC in vitro more potently than the combination of pertuzumab (another approved mAb directed against an alternate HER2 epitope) and trastuzumab. Margetuximab administration also enhances HER2-specific B cell and T cell–mediated responses ex vivo in samples from patients treated with prior lines of HER2 antibody-based therapies. Stemming from these observations, a worthwhile future goal in the treatment of HER2+ breast cancer is to promote combinatorial approaches that better eradicate HER2+ cancer cells via enhanced immunological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Musolino
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University Hospital of Parma, Medical Oncology and Breast Unit, Parma, Italy
| | - William J Gradishar
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Hope S Rugo
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Breast Oncology and Clinical Trials Education, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | | | | | - Mark D Pegram
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
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24
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Li A, Goodyear S, Fuss C, Mitri Z. Exceptional Response to Pembrolizumab and Trastuzumab in a Heavily Pretreated Patient With HER2-Positive TMB-H and MSI-H Metastatic Breast Cancer. JCO Precis Oncol 2022; 5:904-909. [PMID: 34994619 DOI: 10.1200/po.20.00361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Allen Li
- Department of Hematology Oncology, Oregon Health & Science University, Knight Cancer Institute, Portland, OR
| | - Shaun Goodyear
- Department of Hematology Oncology, Oregon Health & Science University, Knight Cancer Institute, Portland, OR
| | - Cristina Fuss
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
| | - Zahi Mitri
- Department of Hematology Oncology, Oregon Health & Science University, Knight Cancer Institute, Portland, OR
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25
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Chen F, Chen N, Gao Y, Jia L, Lyu Z, Cui J. Clinical Progress of PD-1/L1 Inhibitors in Breast Cancer Immunotherapy. Front Oncol 2022; 11:724424. [PMID: 35070955 PMCID: PMC8770281 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.724424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is a major killer of women's health worldwide. While breast cancer is thought to have lower immunogenicity compared with other solid tumors, combination therapy is able to improve the immunogenicity of the tumor and sensitize breast cancer cells to immunotherapy. Immunotherapy represented by immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has been largely explored in the field of breast cancer, including both early and advanced disease. Immunotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has been the most studied, and the PD-L1 inhibitor atezolizumab combined with nab-paclitaxel has been used in the first-line treatment of TNBC. Immunotherapeutic data for human epidermal growth factor receptor-positive and hormone receptor-positive breast cancer are also accumulating. This review summarizes the clinical trial data of ICIs or ICI-containing therapies in different types and stages of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Jiuwei Cui
- Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Triple-negative breast cancer brain metastasis: an update on druggable targets, current clinical trials, and future treatment options. Drug Discov Today 2022; 27:1298-1314. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Matusz-Fisher A, Tan AR. Combination of HER2-targeted agents with immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2021; 22:385-395. [PMID: 34806498 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2021.1981284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancers account for approximately 15 to 20% of breast cancer diagnoses. Historically, HER2-positive breast cancers had been associated with poorer prognosis. The addition of HER2-targeted agents to treatment regimens has significantly improved outcomes for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. Despite this, relapses continue to occur in about 20% of patients. Newer therapeutic strategies are needed. The role of immunotherapy in the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer is currently under clinical investigation. AREAS COVERED This article will focus on the clinical trial data evaluating immune checkpoint inhibitors, including pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, avelumab, durvalumab, and nivolumab in the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer. EXPERT OPINION The incorporation of immunotherapy in the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer is a reasonable strategy. Clinical trials of checkpoint inhibitors with HER2-targeted agents show clinical activity in HER2-positive breast cancer tumors that are programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) positive and also when used as an earlier line of therapy in the metastatic setting. Treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer with immunotherapy and HER2-targeted agents warrants continued clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Matusz-Fisher
- Hematology/Oncology Fellow, Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Antoinette R Tan
- Chief of Breast Medical Oncology, Co-Director, Phase I Program, Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC, USA
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Hernando-Calvo A, Cescon DW, Bedard PL. Novel classes of immunotherapy for breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2021; 191:15-29. [PMID: 34623509 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-021-06405-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Immune-checkpoint inhibitors have profoundly changed the treatment landscape for many tumor types. Despite marked improvements in disease control for highly immunogenic cancers, the clinical impact of checkpoint inhibitors in breast cancers to date is limited. Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with different levels of PD-L1 expression and variable tumor microenvironment (TME) composition according to molecular subtype. With emerging evidence of the role of different factors involved in immune evasion, there are promising new immunotherapy targets that will reshape early drug development for metastatic breast cancer. This review examines the available evidence for existing and emerging immuno-oncology (IO) approaches including small molecules targeting different regulators of the cancer-immunity cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Hernando-Calvo
- Division of Medical Oncology & Hematology, Department of Medicine, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre - University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
| | - David W Cescon
- Division of Medical Oncology & Hematology, Department of Medicine, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre - University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Philippe L Bedard
- Division of Medical Oncology & Hematology, Department of Medicine, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre - University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Seeing the forest and the tree: TILs and PD-L1 as immune biomarkers. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2021; 189:599-606. [PMID: 34487294 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-021-06287-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Here we will provide an immune-focussed overview of biomarkers in early and advanced stage breast cancer. It should be noted from the outset that all the biomarkers under discussion here have not been tested in prospective clinical trials to determine their predictive performance. Such trials require very large sample sizes due to the statistical burden of testing an interaction between a treatment and a biomarker, which is compounded by the heterogeneous biology of breast cancer (Polley et al. in J Natl Cancer Inst 105:1677-1683 2013 [1]). For a detailed discussion of the immunobiology of breast cancer, analytical aspects of these biomarkers, emerging biomarkers such as tumour mutation burden and detailed immunotherapy clinical trial data, see other articles in this issue.
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Emens LA, Adams S, Cimino-Mathews A, Disis ML, Gatti-Mays ME, Ho AY, Kalinsky K, McArthur HL, Mittendorf EA, Nanda R, Page DB, Rugo HS, Rubin KM, Soliman H, Spears PA, Tolaney SM, Litton JK. Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) clinical practice guideline on immunotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:e002597. [PMID: 34389617 PMCID: PMC8365813 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-002597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer has historically been a disease for which immunotherapy was largely unavailable. Recently, the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced/metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has demonstrated efficacy, including longer progression-free survival and increased overall survival in subsets of patients. Based on clinical benefit in randomized trials, ICIs in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of some patients with advanced/metastatic TNBC have been approved by the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA), expanding options for patients. Ongoing questions remain, however, about the optimal chemotherapy backbone for immunotherapy, appropriate biomarker-based selection of patients for treatment, the optimal strategy for immunotherapy treatment in earlier stage disease, and potential use in histological subtypes other than TNBC. To provide guidance to the oncology community on these and other important concerns, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) convened a multidisciplinary panel of experts to develop a clinical practice guideline (CPG). The expert panel drew upon the published literature as well as their clinical experience to develop recommendations for healthcare professionals on these important aspects of immunotherapeutic treatment for breast cancer, including diagnostic testing, treatment planning, immune-related adverse events (irAEs), and patient quality of life (QOL) considerations. The evidence-based and consensus-based recommendations in this CPG are intended to give guidance to cancer care providers treating patients with breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leisha A Emens
- Department of Medicine, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sylvia Adams
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ashley Cimino-Mathews
- Department of Pathology and Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Mary L Disis
- Cancer Vaccine Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Margaret E Gatti-Mays
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, Division of Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Alice Y Ho
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kevin Kalinsky
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth A Mittendorf
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rita Nanda
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - David B Page
- Earle A Chiles Research Institute, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Hope S Rugo
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Krista M Rubin
- Center for Melanoma, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hatem Soliman
- Department of Breast Oncology, H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Patricia A Spears
- University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sara M Tolaney
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jennifer K Litton
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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Zhao Y, Liu L, Weng L. Comparisons of Underlying Mechanisms, Clinical Efficacy and Safety Between Anti-PD-1 and Anti-PD-L1 Immunotherapy: The State-of-the-Art Review and Future Perspectives. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:714483. [PMID: 34305619 PMCID: PMC8293989 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.714483] [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] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, diverse PD-1/PD-L1 blockades have demonstrated significant clinical benefit in across a wide range of tumor and cancer types. With the increasing number of PD-1/PD-L1 blockades available in the market, differences between the clinical performance of each of them started to be reported. Here, we provide a comprehensive historical and biological perspective regarding the underlying mechanism and clinical performance of PD-1/PD-L1 blockades, with an emphasis on the comparisons of their clinical efficacy and safety. The real-world evidence indicated that PD-1 blockade may be more effective than the PD-L1, though no significant differences were found as regards to their safety profiles. Future head-to-head studies are warranted for direct comparison between them. Finally, we summarize the yet to be elucidated questions and future promise of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy, including a need to explore novel biomarkers, novel combinatorial strategies, and their clinical use on chronic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yating Zhao
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Clinical Pharmacology, BeiGene Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Liu Liu
- Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Liang Weng
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Radiation Oncology, Changsha, China.,Xiangya Cancer Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Xiangya Lung Cancer Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Li Y, Miao W, He D, Wang S, Lou J, Jiang Y, Wang S. Recent Progress on Immunotherapy for Breast Cancer: Tumor Microenvironment, Nanotechnology and More. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:680315. [PMID: 34150736 PMCID: PMC8207056 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.680315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy is a major emerging treatment for breast cancer (BC). However, not all breast cancer patients derive benefit from immunotherapy. Predictive biomarkers of immunotherapy, such as tumor mutation burden and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, are promising to stratify the patients with BC and optimize the therapeutic effect. Various targets of the immune response pathway have also been explored to expand the modalities of immunotherapy. The use of nanotechnology for the imaging of predictive biomarkers and the combination with other therapeutic modalities presents a number of advantages for the immunotherapy of BC. In this review, we summary the emerging therapeutic modalities of immunotherapy, present prominent examples of immunotherapy in BC, and discuss the future opportunity of nanotechnology in the immunotherapy of BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Li
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenfang Miao
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Doudou He
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Siqi Wang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jianjuan Lou
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanni Jiang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shouju Wang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Chen F, Chen N, Lv Z, Li L, Cui J. Efficacy of second-line treatments for patients with advanced human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive breast cancer after trastuzumab-based treatment: a systematic review and bayesian network analysis. J Cancer 2021; 12:1687-1697. [PMID: 33613756 PMCID: PMC7890320 DOI: 10.7150/jca.51845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Different second-line treatments of patients with trastuzumab-resistant human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive breast cancer were examined in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). A network meta-analysis is helpful to evaluate the comparative survival benefits of different options. Methods: We performed a bayesian network meta-analysis using R-4.0.0 software and fixed consistency model to compare the progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) benefits of different second-line regimens. Results: 13 RCTs (19 publications, 4313 patients) remained for qualitative synthesis and 12 RCTs (17 publications, 4022 patients) were deemed eligible for network meta-analysis. For PFS, we divided network analysis into two parts owing to insufficient connections among treatments. The first part involved 8 treatments in 9 studies and we referred it as PFS (#1). Amid the following 8 interventions: pyrotinib + capecitabine, T-DM1 + atezolizumab, pertuzumab + trastuzumab + capecitabine, T-DM1, trastuzumab + capecitabine, lapatinib + capecitabine, neratinib, and capecitabine, we found consistent benefits between the first three interventions; moreover, pyrotinib + capecitabine was most likely to be associated with the best benefits; capecitabine monotherapy was associated with the worst PFS. The second part included 3 treatments in 2 studies and we referred it as PFS (#2): everolimus + trastuzumab + vinorelbine had better PFS benefits versus trastuzumab + vinorelbine and afatinib + vinorelbine. For OS, we analyzed 7 treatments in 7 studies, and observed T-DM1 + atezolizumab, pertuzumab + trastuzumab + capecitabine, and T-DM1 had similar effectiveness, and the first had the highest probability to yield the longest OS; capecitabine or neratinib alone yielded the worst OS benefits. Conclusions: Our work comprehensively summarized and analyzed current available RCT-based evidence of the second-line treatments for trastuzumab-treated, HER2-positive, advanced breast cancer. These results provide clinicians and oncologists meaningful references for clinical drug administration and the development of novel effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jiuwei Cui
- Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Correia AS, Gärtner F, Vale N. Drug combination and repurposing for cancer therapy: the example of breast cancer. Heliyon 2021; 7:e05948. [PMID: 33490692 PMCID: PMC7810770 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e05948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a set of extremely complex diseases, which are increasingly prominent today, as it affects and kills millions of people worldwide, being the subject of intense study both in its pathophysiology and therapy. Especially in women, breast cancer is still a cancer with a high incidence and mortality. Even though mortality rates for this type of cancer have declined in recent years, it remains challenging at the treatment level, especially the metastatic type. Due to all the impact on health, cancer therapy is the subject of costly and intense research. To enrich this therapy, as well as decrease its underlying high associated costs, drug repurposing and drug combinations are strategies that have been increasingly studied and addressed. As the name implies, drug repurposing presupposes giving new purposes to agents which, in this case, are approved for the therapy of other diseases (for example, cardiovascular or metabolic diseases), but are not approved for cancer therapy. Therefore, a better knowledge of these therapeutic modalities for breast cancer therapy is crucial for improved therapy. In this particular review, we will discuss some relevant aspects of cancer and, particularly, breast cancer and its therapy. Also, drug combination and repurposing will be highlighted, together with relevant examples. Despite some limitations that need to be overcome, these methodologies are extremely important and advantageous in combating several current problems of cancer therapy, namely in terms of costs and resistance to current therapeutic modalities. These approaches will be explored with a special focus on breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Salomé Correia
- OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Dr. Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Fátima Gärtner
- Department of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho 45, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Vale
- OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Dr. Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
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Trastuzumab emtansine plus atezolizumab versus trastuzumab emtansine plus placebo in previously treated, HER2-positive advanced breast cancer (KATE2): a phase 2, multicentre, randomised, double-blind trial. Lancet Oncol 2020; 21:1283-1295. [PMID: 33002436 DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(20)30465-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 195] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer is incurable and new treatments are needed. Addition of atezolizumab to trastuzumab emtansine might potentiate anticancer immunity and enhance the HER2-targeted cytotoxic activity of trastuzumab emtansine. We aimed to test this combination in HER2-positive advanced breast cancer that had progressed after previous treatment with trastuzumab and a taxane. METHODS The KATE2 study is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 study at 68 centres from nine countries across Asia, Australia, North America, and western Europe. Eligible patients were adults (aged ≥18 years) with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1 and centrally confirmed, measurable, HER2-positive advanced breast cancer previously treated with trastuzumab and a taxane. Patients were randomly assigned (2:1) either trastuzumab emtansine (3·6 mg/kg of bodyweight) plus atezolizumab (1200 mg) or trastuzumab emtansine plus placebo; all study drugs were administered by intravenous infusion every 3 weeks. Randomisation was done via an interactive voice and web response system using a permuted block scheme (block size of six) and was stratified by PD-L1 status, world region, and liver metastases. Patients, investigators, and study team members were masked to treatment allocation. The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed progression-free survival in the intention-to-treat population. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02924883, and the study has been completed. FINDINGS Between Sept 26, 2016, and Aug 7, 2017, 330 patients were screened for the study, of whom 202 were randomly allocated either atezolizumab (n=133) or placebo (n=69). At the recommendation of the independent data monitoring committee, treatment assignment was unmasked on Dec 11, 2017, due to futility and the numerically higher frequency of adverse events among patients assigned atezolizumab. This date was set as the clinical cutoff for the primary analysis. Median follow-up was 8·5 months (IQR 6·1-11·5) for patients assigned atezolizumab and 8·4 months (5·3-11·1) for those assigned placebo. Median progression-free survival was 8·2 months (95% CI 5·8-10·7) for patients assigned atezolizumab versus 6·8 months (4·0-11·1) for those assigned placebo (stratified hazard ratio 0·82, 95% CI 0·55-1·23; p=0·33). The most common grade 3 or worse adverse events were thrombocytopenia (17 [13%] among 132 patients who received atezolizumab vs three [4%] among 68 who received placebo), increased aspartate aminotransferase (11 [8%] vs two [3%]), anaemia (seven [5%] vs 0), neutropenia (six [5%] vs three [4%]), and increased alanine aminotransferase (six [5%] vs two [3%]). Serious adverse events occurred in 43 (33%) of 132 patients who received atezolizumab and 13 (19%) of 68 patients who received placebo. One patient who received atezolizumab died due to a treatment-related adverse event (haemophagocytic syndrome). INTERPRETATION Addition of atezolizumab to trastuzumab emtansine did not show a clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival and was associated with more adverse events. Further study of trastuzumab emtansine plus atezolizumab is warranted in a subpopulation of patients with PD-L1-positive, HER2-positive advanced breast cancer. FUNDING F Hoffman-La Roche.
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Radosa JC, Stotz L, Müller C, Kaya AC, Solomayer EF, Radosa MP. Clinical Data on Immunotherapy in Breast Cancer. Breast Care (Basel) 2020; 15:450-469. [PMID: 33223989 PMCID: PMC7650095 DOI: 10.1159/000511788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer has traditionally been considered to have a low immunogenic potential compared to other tumor entities. SUMMARY The most extensively studied immunotherapeutic agents for breast cancer to date are immune checkpoint inhibitors, with the results of the IMpassion130 trial leading to the approval of atezolizumab plus nab-paclitaxel for first-line treatment of programmed cell death ligand 1-positive, metastatic, triple-negative breast cancer, and studies in earlier stages have yielded promising results. Other immunotherapeutic options being assessed in phases 2 and 3 trials include vaccine-based therapies and treatment with anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (H-directed immune-linked antibodies) and substances evaluated in early clinical trials as cellular therapies (adoptive cell therapy and chimeric antigen receptor T cells). KEY MESSAGES Immunotherapy is an emerging modality for the treatment of breast cancer, as evidenced by the plethora of preclinical and clinical concepts and ongoing trials. Early studies established the role of immunotherapeutic agents in the metastatic setting. Ongoing studies will expand our knowledge about the timing of administration, best partners for combination therapy, and predictive biomarkers to guide immunotherapy for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Caroline Radosa
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany
| | - Lisa Stotz
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany
| | - Carolin Müller
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany
| | - Askin Canguel Kaya
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany
| | - Erich-Franz Solomayer
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany
| | - Marc Philipp Radosa
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Klinikum Bremen-Nord, Bremen, Germany
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Keup C, Kimmig R, Kasimir-Bauer S. Liquid Biopsies to Evaluate Immunogenicity of Gynecological/Breast Tumors: On the Way to Blood-Based Biomarkers for Immunotherapies. Breast Care (Basel) 2020; 15:470-480. [PMID: 33223990 PMCID: PMC7650128 DOI: 10.1159/000510509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the assumption of breast cancer (BC) as a cold, non-immunogenic tumor, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is favorable for a subgroup of patients. Immunohistochemical assessment of the programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is the only approved companion diagnostic for anti-PD-L1 therapy in metastatic triple-negative BC; however, challenges regarding the standardization of PD-L1 scoring in tumor tissue still remain. Consequently, to select patients most likely to respond to ICI, blood-based biomarkers are urgently needed. SUMMARY AND KEY MESSAGES Liquid biopsy, comprising circulating immune cells, circulating tumor cells and extracellular vesicles, as well as their surface proteins, is of high potential, and these analytes were already shown to be molecular correlates or regulators of the evasion from antitumoral immune reaction. Liquid biopsy, also enabling the evaluation of tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability, and the T-cell receptor repertoire, allows serial sampling for monitoring purposes and reflects intra-tumoral heterogeneity which qualifies as marker for immunogenicity. Only a very few studies have already elucidated the potential of these analytes as biomarkers under ICI therapy. Nonetheless, the topic is of growing interest and has high relevance for the future. However, for clinical implementation, these multifarious analytes first need to pass robust standardization and validation procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sabine Kasimir-Bauer
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
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Bhattacharya S, Calar K, Evans C, Petrasko M, de la Puente P. Bioengineering the Oxygen-Deprived Tumor Microenvironment Within a Three-Dimensional Platform for Studying Tumor-Immune Interactions. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:1040. [PMID: 33015012 PMCID: PMC7498579 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.01040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxygen deprivation within tumors is one of the most prevalent causes of resilient cancer cell survival and increased immune evasion in breast cancer (BCa). Current in vitro models do not adequately mimic physiological oxygen levels relevant to breast tissue and its tumor-immune interactions. In this study, we propose an approach to engineer a three-dimensional (3D) model (named 3D engineered oxygen, 3D-O) that supports the growth of BCa cells and generates physio- and pathophysiological oxygen levels to understand the role of oxygen availability in tumor-immune interactions. BCa cells (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) were embedded into plasma-derived 3D-O scaffolds that reflected physio- and pathophysiological oxygen levels relevant to the healthy and cancerous breast tissue. BCa cells grown within 3D-O scaffolds were analyzed by flow cytometry, confocal imaging, immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence for cell proliferation, extracellular matrix protein expression, and alterations in immune evasive outcomes. Exosome secretion from 3D-O scaffolds were evaluated using the NanoSight particle analyzer. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were incorporated on the top of 3D-O scaffolds and the difference in tumor-infiltrating capabilities as a result of different oxygen content were assessed by flow cytometry and confocal imaging. Lastly, hypoxia and Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibition were validated as targets to sensitize BCa cells in order to overcome immune evasion. Low oxygen-induced adaptations within 3D-O scaffolds validated known tumor hypoxia characteristics such as reduced BCa cell proliferation, increased extracellular matrix protein expression, increased extracellular vesicle secretion and enhanced immune surface marker expression on BCa cells. We further demonstrated that low oxygen in 3D-O scaffolds significantly influence immune infiltration. CD8+ T cell infiltration was impaired under pathophysiological oxygen levels and we were also able to establish that hypoxia and PD-L1 inhibition re-sensitized BCa cells to cytotoxic CD8+ T cells. Bioengineering the oxygen-deprived BCa tumor microenvironment in our engineered 3D-O physiological and tumorous scaffolds supported known intra-tumoral hypoxia characteristics allowing the study of the role of oxygen availability in tumor-immune interactions. The 3D-O model could serve as a promising platform for the evaluation of immunological events and as a drug-screening platform tool to overcome hypoxia-driven immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somshuvra Bhattacharya
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
| | - Kristin Calar
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
| | - Claire Evans
- Histology and Imaging Core, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
| | - Mark Petrasko
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
- Sanford PROMISE, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
| | - Pilar de la Puente
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
- Department of Surgery, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
- Flow Cytometry Core, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
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39
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Role of innate and adaptive immunity in the efficacy of anti-HER2 monoclonal antibodies for HER2-positive breast cancer. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2020; 149:102927. [PMID: 32172224 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2020.102927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Anti-HER2 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) such as trastuzumab are effective for all stages of HER2-positive breast cancer (BC). However, intrinsic or acquired resistance to these drugs may occur in a significant number of patients (pts) and, except for HER2 status, no validated predictive factors of response/resistance have been identified to date. This lack is in part due to the not yet fully elucidated mechanism of action of mAbs in vivo. Increasing evidence suggests a significant contribution of both innate and adaptive immunity to the antitumor effects of mAbs. The aim of this review was to describe the role of innate and adaptive immunity in the efficacy of anti-HER2 mAbs and to report known and novel strategies to be used for optimizing immune effects of anti-HER2 therapies for HER2-positive BC.
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40
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Tang Y, Li J, Xie N, Yang X, Liu L, Wu H, Tian C, He Y, Wang X, He Q, Hu ZY, Ouyang Q. PIK3CA gene mutations in the helical domain correlate with high tumor mutation burden and poor prognosis in metastatic breast carcinomas with late-line therapies. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:1577-1590. [PMID: 31980592 PMCID: PMC7053638 DOI: 10.18632/aging.102701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Nearly half of metastatic breast cancers (MBC) have genetic aberrations in the PI3K/AKT pathway. To investigate the distinct effect of these aberrations on MBC, 193 MBC patients who progressed after the early line (≤2) salvage treatment voluntarily received next generation sequencing (NGS) for a panel of 1,021 genes. 93 (48%) patients had genetic aberrations in the PI3K/AKT pathway. The number of patients with PIK3CA mutations in kinase domain (KD), helical domain (HD) and other domain (OD), were 36 (18.7%), 26 (13.5%), 10 (5.2%), respectively. 21 (10.9%) patients had mutations in PI3K/AKT pathway genes other than PIK3CA (P/A). Compared to PI3K/AKT-wild type (WT) patients, PIK3CA-HD patients had a significantly shorter progression-free survival (PFS) (Logrank p-value < 0.0001). PIK3CA-KD, PIK3CA-OD and other P/A mutations showed similar PFS to WT patients (Logrank p-value = 0.63). PIK3CA-HD patients had a distinct ctDNA mutation profile to patients with other PI3K/AKT mutations. PIK3CA-HD patients had a higher rate of FGFR and NF1 aberrations. In addition, more PIK3CA-HD carriers were TMB-high. Cox regression analyses suggested that PIK3CA-HD mutations, FGFR aberrations and high TMB were all significant risk factors for poor PFS. In conclusion, future research needs to focus more on the treatment strategies targeting PIK3CA-HD mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Tang
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410000, China.,Department of Breast Cancer Medical Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Jing Li
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410000, China.,Department of Breast Cancer Medical Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Ning Xie
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410000, China.,Department of Breast Cancer Medical Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Xiaohong Yang
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410000, China.,Department of Breast Cancer Medical Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Liping Liu
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410000, China.,Department of Breast Cancer Medical Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Hui Wu
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410000, China.,Department of Breast Cancer Medical Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Can Tian
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410000, China.,Department of Breast Cancer Medical Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Ying He
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410000, China.,The 2nd Department of Breast Cancer Surgical Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410000, China
| | | | - Qiongzhi He
- Beijing Geneplus Institute, Beijing 102200, China
| | - Zhe-Yu Hu
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410000, China.,Department of Breast Cancer Medical Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Quchang Ouyang
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410000, China.,Department of Breast Cancer Medical Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410000, China
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