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Cai L, Chen A, Tang D. A new strategy for immunotherapy of microsatellite-stable (MSS)-type advanced colorectal cancer: Multi-pathway combination therapy with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Immunology 2024. [PMID: 38517066 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a frequent gastrointestinal malignancy with high rates of morbidity and mortality; 85% of these tumours are proficient mismatch repair (pMMR)-microsatellite instability-low (MSI-L)/microsatellite stable (MSS) CRC known as 'cold' tumours that are resistant to immunosuppressive drugs. Monotherapy with programmed death 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors is ineffective for treating MSS CRC, making immunotherapy for MSS CRC a bottleneck. Recent studies have found that the multi-pathway regimens combined with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors can enhance the efficacy of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 in MSS CRC by increasing the number of CD8+ T cells, upregulating PD-L1 expression and improving the tumour microenvironment. This paper reviews the research progress of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in combination with cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors, oncolytic virus, intestinal flora, antiangiogenic agents, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and epigenetic drugs for the treatment of pMMR-MSI-L/MSS CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingli Cai
- Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Anqi Chen
- Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Dong Tang
- Department of General Surgery, Institute of General Surgery, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou, China
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Hao L, Li S, Deng J, Li N, Yu F, Jiang Z, Zhang J, Shi X, Hu X. The current status and future of PD-L1 in liver cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1323581. [PMID: 38155974 PMCID: PMC10754529 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1323581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The application of immunotherapy in tumor, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has played an important role in the treatment of advanced unresectable liver cancer. However, the efficacy of ICIs varies greatly among different patients, which has aroused people's attention to the regulatory mechanism of programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) in the immune escape of liver cancer. PD-L1 is regulated by multiple levels and signaling pathways in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including gene variation, epigenetic inheritance, transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional regulation, and post-translational modification. More studies have also found that the high expression of PD-L1 may be the main factor affecting the immunotherapy of liver cancer. However, what is the difference of PD-L1 expressed by different types of cells in the microenvironment of HCC, and which type of cells expressed PD-L1 determines the effect of tumor immunotherapy remains unclear. Therefore, clarifying the regulatory mechanism of PD-L1 in liver cancer can provide more basis for liver cancer immunotherapy and combined immune treatment strategy. In addition to its well-known role in immune regulation, PD-L1 also plays a role in regulating cancer cell proliferation and promoting drug resistance of tumor cells, which will be reviewed in this paper. In addition, we also summarized the natural products and drugs that regulated the expression of PD-L1 in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyuan Hao
- School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Shenghao Li
- School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Clinical Research Center, Shijiazhuang Fifth Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Jiali Deng
- School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Na Li
- School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Fei Yu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhi Jiang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Junli Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xinli Shi
- Center of Experimental Management, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Jinzhong, China
| | - Xiaoyu Hu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Guo R, Li J, Hu J, Fu Q, Yan Y, Xu S, Wang X, Jiao F. Combination of epidrugs with immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer immunotherapy: From theory to therapy. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 120:110417. [PMID: 37276826 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110417] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy based on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has revolutionized treatment strategies in multiple types of cancer. However, the resistance and relapse as associated with the extreme complexity of cancer-immunity interactions remain a major challenge to be resolved. Owing to the epigenome plasticity of cancer and immune cells, a growing body of evidence has been presented indicating that epigenetic treatments have the potential to overcome current limitations of immunotherapy, thus providing a rationalefor the combination of ICIs with epigenetic agents (epidrugs). In this review, we first make an overview about the epigenetic regulations in tumor biology and immunodevelopment. Subsequently, a diverse array of inhibitory agents under investigations targeted epigenetic modulators (Azacitidine, Decitabine, Vorinostat, Romidepsin, Belinostat, Panobinostat, Tazemetostat, Enasidenib and Ivosidenib, etc.) and immune checkpoints (Atezolizmab, Avelumab, Cemiplimab, Durvalumb, Ipilimumab, Nivolumab and Pembrolizmab, etc.) to increase anticancer responses were described and the potential mechanisms were further discussed. Finally, we summarize the findings of clinical trials and provide a perspective for future clinical studies directed at investigating the combination of epidrugs with ICIs as a treatment for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoyu Guo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, PR China
| | - Jixia Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Yantaishan Hospital, Yantai 264003, PR China
| | - Jinxia Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, PR China
| | - Qiang Fu
- School of Pharmacology, Institute of Aging Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, PR China
| | - Yunfei Yan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, PR China
| | - Sen Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, PR China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory & Health Service Training, 970 Hospital of the PLA Joint Logistic Support Force, Yantai 264002, PR China.
| | - Fei Jiao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, PR China.
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Liu H, Ma H, Li Y, Zhao H. Advances in epigenetic modifications and cervical cancer research. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188894. [PMID: 37011697 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Cervical cancer (CC) is an important public health problem for women, and perspectives and information regarding its prevention and treatment are quickly evolving. Human papilloma virus (HPV) has been recognized as a major contributor to CC development; however, HPV infection is not the only cause of CC. Epigenetics refers to changes in gene expression levels caused by non-gene sequence changes. Growing evidence suggests that the disruption of gene expression patterns which were governed by epigenetic modifications can result in cancer, autoimmune diseases, and various other maladies. This article mainly reviews the current research status of epigenetic modifications in CC based on four aspects, respectively DNA methylation, histone modification, noncoding RNA regulation and chromatin regulation, and we also discuss their functions and molecular mechanisms in the occurrence and progression of CC. This review provides new ideas for early screening, risk assessment, molecular targeted therapy and prognostic prediction of CC.
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Zwergel C, Fioravanti R, Mai A. PD-L1 small-molecule modulators: A new hope in epigenetic-based multidrug cancer therapy? Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103435. [PMID: 36370994 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.103435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is an immune checkpoint protein the overexpression of which results in an inhibitory signal that induces T cell exhaustion responsible for immune escape in tumors. Immunotherapy strategies targeting the PD-L1 pathway have achieved remarkable success in treating various types of cancer. More recently, numerous advances in understanding the complex PD-L1 biology have been made, and the first small-molecule inhibitors have been described in the literature. In this review, we highlight the most promising recent advances in understanding the complex regulation mechanisms focusing on small-molecule modulators, which could be used in rational therapy combinations with other epigenetic chemotherapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clemens Zwergel
- Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Rossella Fioravanti
- Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonello Mai
- Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; Pasteur Institute, Cenci-Bolognetti Foundation, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
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Dai M, Liu M, Yang H, Küçük C, You H. New insights into epigenetic regulation of resistance to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade cancer immunotherapy: mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities. Exp Hematol Oncol 2022; 11:101. [PMID: 36384676 PMCID: PMC9667634 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-022-00356-0] [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: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Programmed cell death protein 1(PD-1) is a type of immune-inhibitory checkpoint protein, which delivers inhibitory signals to cytotoxic T cells by binding to the programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) displayed on the surface of cancer cells. Antibodies blocking PD-1/PD-L1 interaction have been extensively used in treatment of human malignancies and have achieved promising outcomes in recent years. However, gradual development of resistance to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade has decreased the effectiveness of this immunotherapy in cancer patients. The underlying epigenetic mechanisms need to be elucidated for application of novel strategies overcoming this immunotherapy resistance. Epigenetic aberrations contribute to cancerogenesis by promoting different hallmarks of cancer. Moreover, these alterations may lead to therapy resistance, thereby leading to poor prognosis. Recently, the epigenetic regulatory drugs have been shown to decrease the resistance to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in certain cancer patients. Inhibitors of the non-coding RNAs, DNA methyltransferases, and histone deacetylases combined with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have shown considerable therapeutic efficacy against carcinomas as well as blood cancers. Importantly, DNA methylation-mediated epigenetic silencing can inhibit antigen processing and presentation, which promotes cancerogenesis and aggravates resistance to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade immunotherapy. These observations altogether suggest that the combination of the epigenetic regulatory drugs with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors may present potential solution to the resistance caused by monotherapy of PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy.
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Liu B, Zhai J, Wang W, Liu T, Liu C, Zhu X, Wang Q, Tian W, Zhang F. Identification of Tumor Microenvironment and DNA Methylation-Related Prognostic Signature for Predicting Clinical Outcomes and Therapeutic Responses in Cervical Cancer. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:872932. [PMID: 35517856 PMCID: PMC9061945 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.872932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Tumor microenvironment (TME) has been reported to have a strong association with tumor progression and therapeutic outcome, and epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation can affect TMB and play an indispensable role in tumorigenesis. However, the potential mechanisms of TME and DNA methylation remain unclear in cervical cancer (CC). Methods: The immune and stromal scores of TME were generated by the ESTIMATE algorithm for CC patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The TME and DNA methylation-related genes were identified by the integrative analysis of DNA promoter methylation and gene expression. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression was performed 1,000 times to further identify a nine-gene TME and DNA methylation-related prognostic signature. The signature was further validated in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset. Then, the identified signature was integrated with the Federation International of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage to establish a composite prognostic nomogram. Results: CC patients with high immunity levels have better survival than those with low immunity levels. Both in the training and validation datasets, the risk score of the signature was an independent prognosis factor. The composite nomogram showed higher accuracy of prognosis and greater net benefits than the FIGO stage and the signature. The high-risk group had a significantly higher fraction of genome altered than the low-risk group. Eleven genes were significantly different in mutation frequencies between the high- and low-risk groups. Interestingly, patients with mutant TTN had better overall survival (OS) than those with wild type. Patients in the low-risk group had significantly higher tumor mutational burden (TMB) than those in the high-risk group. Taken together, the results of TMB, immunophenoscore (IPS), and tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) score suggested that patients in the low-risk group may have greater immunotherapy benefits. Finally, four drugs (panobinostat, lenvatinib, everolimus, and temsirolimus) were found to have potential therapeutic implications for patients with a high-risk score. Conclusions: Our findings highlight that the TME and DNA methylation-related prognostic signature can accurately predict the prognosis of CC and may be important for stratified management of patients and precision targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bangquan Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jiabao Zhai
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Wanyu Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Tianyu Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xiaojie Zhu
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Wenjing Tian
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Fubin Zhang
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
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Wang Y, Li N, Tian D, Zhou CW, Wang YH, Yang C, Zeng MS. Analysis of m6A-Related lncRNAs for Prognosis Value and Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancer Manag Res 2021; 13:6451-6471. [PMID: 34429653 PMCID: PMC8379396 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s322179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play pivotal roles in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, how their interaction is involved in the prognostic value of HCC and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy remains unclear. Methods The RNA sequencing and clinical data of HCC patients were collected from TCGA database. The prognostic m6A-related lncRNAs were screened out with Pearson correlation test, univariate Cox analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression. Patients with HCC were classified into 2 subtypes by consensus clustering. Survival analyses were performed to assess the prognostic value of different clusters and risk models. Potential tumor correlated biological pathways correlated with different clusters were explored through gene set enrichment analysis. We also identified the relationship of the risk model and clusters with response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy and tumor microenvironment (TME). Furthermore, the prognostic value of the 9 m6A-related lncRNAs was validated in the external cohort. Finally, the role of SNHG4 was explored by silencing and overexpression of SNHG4 through conducting proliferation, migration and invasion experiments. Results Patients from 2 clusters and different risk groups based on m6A-related lncRNAs had significantly different clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival outcomes. Tumor-correlated biological pathways were found to be correlated with Cluster 2 through GSEA. Moreover, we found that patients from different clusters and risk groups expressed higher levels of immune checkpoint genes and had distinct TME and different responses for ICIs therapy. Prognostic value of this risk model was further confirmed in the external cohort. Finally, consistent with the discovery, SNHG4 played an oncogenic role in vitro. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that the 9 m6A-related lncRNA signature may serve as a novel predictor in the prognosis of HCC and optimize (ICIs) therapy. SNHG4 plays an oncogenic role in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Wang
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Na Li
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Di Tian
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Chang-Wu Zhou
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - You-Hua Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, People's Republic of China
| | - Chun Yang
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng-Su Zeng
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
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Bhola NE, Njatcha C, Hu L, Lee ED, Shiah JV, Kim MO, Johnson DE, Grandis JR. PD-L1 is upregulated via BRD2 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma models of acquired cetuximab resistance. Head Neck 2021; 43:3364-3373. [PMID: 34346116 DOI: 10.1002/hed.26827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor models resistant to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors or cisplatin express higher levels of the immune checkpoint molecule PD-L1. We sought to determine whether PD-L1 expression is elevated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) models of acquired cetuximab resistance and whether the expression is regulated by bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) proteins. METHODS Expression of PD-L1 was assessed in HNSCC cell line models of acquired cetuximab resistance. Proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC)- and RNAi-mediated targeting were used to assess the role of BET proteins. RESULTS Cetuximab-resistant HNSCC cells expressed elevated PD-L1 compared to cetuximab-sensitive controls. Treatment with the BET inhibitor JQ1, the BET PROTAC MZ1, or RNAi-mediated knockdown of BRD2 decreased PD-L1 expression. Knockdown of BRD2 also reduced the elevated levels of PD-L1 seen in a model of acquired cisplatin resistance. CONCLUSIONS PD-L1 is significantly elevated in HNSCC models of acquired cetuximab and cisplatin resistance where BRD2 is the primary regulator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil E Bhola
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Christian Njatcha
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Lanlin Hu
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Eliot D Lee
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jamie V Shiah
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Mi-Ok Kim
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Daniel E Johnson
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jennifer R Grandis
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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Atezolizumab and blockade of LncRNA PVT1 attenuate cisplatin resistant ovarian cancer cells progression synergistically via JAK2/STAT3/PD-L1 pathway. Clin Immunol 2021; 227:108728. [PMID: 33878452 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2021.108728] [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: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between lncRNA PVT1(PVT1) level and PD-L1 expression and their functions in cisplatin resistant epithelial ovarian cancer (CREOC). METHODS PVT1 and PD-L1 in ovarian cancer tissues were detected and analyzed. The cells proliferation, apoptosis, invasion abilities and potential mechanism were detected by cell functional experiments and western-blot assay, respectively. RESULTS The average expressions of PVT1 and PD-L1 in CREOC tissues were significantly higher. The expression of PVT1 is positively associated with PD-L1 in CREOC. Higher expressions of PVT1 and PD-L1 indicated more malignant clinical behavior and shorter PFS and OS. Knockdown of PVT1 inhibited the proliferation and invasion and promote apoptosis for A2780cis cells, which may be related to decrease the expression of PD-L1 via repressing JAK2/STAT3 pathway. CONCLUSIONS The synergistic therapeutic strategy using LncRNA PVT1-targeted therapy and immune checkpoint blockade of PD-L1 warrant study further for ovarian cancer patients with cisplatin resistant recurrence.
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Lodewijk I, Nunes SP, Henrique R, Jerónimo C, Dueñas M, Paramio JM. Tackling tumor microenvironment through epigenetic tools to improve cancer immunotherapy. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:63. [PMID: 33761971 PMCID: PMC7992805 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01046-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic alterations are known contributors to cancer development and aggressiveness. Additional to alterations in cancer cells, aberrant epigenetic marks are present in cells of the tumor microenvironment, including lymphocytes and tumor-associated macrophages, which are often overlooked but known to be a contributing factor to a favorable environment for tumor growth. Therefore, the main aim of this review is to give an overview of the epigenetic alterations affecting immune cells in the tumor microenvironment to provoke an immunosuppressive function and contribute to cancer development. Moreover, immunotherapy is briefly discussed in the context of epigenetics, describing both its combination with epigenetic drugs and the need for epigenetic biomarkers to predict response to immune checkpoint blockage. MAIN BODY Combining both topics, epigenetic machinery plays a central role in generating an immunosuppressive environment for cancer growth, which creates a barrier for immunotherapy to be successful. Furthermore, epigenetic-directed compounds may not only affect cancer cells but also immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, which could be beneficial for the clinical response to immunotherapy. CONCLUSION Thus, modulating epigenetics in combination with immunotherapy might be a promising therapeutic option to improve the success of this therapy. Further studies are necessary to (1) understand in depth the impact of the epigenetic machinery in the tumor microenvironment; (2) how the epigenetic machinery can be modulated according to tumor type to increase response to immunotherapy and (3) find reliable biomarkers for a better selection of patients eligible to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Lodewijk
- Molecular Oncology Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales Y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute I+12, University Hospital “12 de Octubre”, 28041 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra P. Nunes
- Molecular Oncology Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales Y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute I+12, University Hospital “12 de Octubre”, 28041 Madrid, Spain
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group – Research Center, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (CI-IPOP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Rui Henrique
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group – Research Center, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (CI-IPOP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar – University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Carmen Jerónimo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group – Research Center, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (CI-IPOP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar – University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Marta Dueñas
- Molecular Oncology Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales Y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute I+12, University Hospital “12 de Octubre”, 28041 Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús M. Paramio
- Molecular Oncology Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales Y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute I+12, University Hospital “12 de Octubre”, 28041 Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Han J, Xu X, Liu Z, Li Z, Wu Y, Zuo D. Recent advances of molecular mechanisms of regulating PD-L1 expression in melanoma. Int Immunopharmacol 2020; 88:106971. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.106971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Reynolds VL, Butler P, Abernathy MM, Aschenbrenner L, Best DD, Blank J, Crosby M, Custer L, Escobar PA, Kolaja K, Moggs J, Shuey D, Snyder C, Van Vleet T, Zhou J, Hart TK. Nonclinical safety assessment of epigenetic modulatory drugs: Current status and industry perspective. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2020; 117:104746. [PMID: 32911461 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2020.104746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Pharmaceutic products designed to perturb the function of epigenetic modulators have been approved by regulatory authorities for treatment of advanced cancer. While the predominant effort in epigenetic drug development continues to be in oncology, non-oncology indications are also garnering interest. A survey of pharmaceutical companies was conducted to assess the interest and concerns for developing small molecule direct epigenetic effectors (EEs) as medicines. Survey themes addressed (1) general levels of interest and activity with EEs as therapeutic agents, (2) potential safety concerns, and (3) possible future efforts to develop targeted strategies for nonclinical safety assessment of EEs. Thirteen companies contributed data to the survey. Overall, the survey data indicate the consensus opinion that existing ICH guidelines are effective and appropriate for nonclinical safety assessment activities with EEs. Attention in the framework of study design should, on a case by case basis, be considered for delayed or latent toxicities, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, and the theoretical potential for transgenerational effects. While current guidelines have been appropriate for the nonclinical safety assessments of epigenetic targets, broader experience with a wide range of epigenetic targets will provide information to assess the potential need for new or revised risk assessment strategies for EE drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Derek D Best
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jim Blank
- Takeda Pharmaceutical, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Meredith Crosby
- AbbVie Inc. Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Preclinical Safety, 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Laura Custer
- Bristol-Myers Squibb, Drug Safety Evaluation, 1 Squibb Dr, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | | | - Kyle Kolaja
- Bristol-Myers Squibb, Drug Safety Evaluation, 1 Squibb Dr, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Jonathan Moggs
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Translational Medicine, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dana Shuey
- Incyte Corporation, 1801 Augustine Cutoff, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | | | - Terry Van Vleet
- AbbVie Inc. Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Preclinical Safety, 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Junguo Zhou
- Nonclinical Safety, Janssen Research and Development LLC., Raritan, NJ, USA
| | - Timothy K Hart
- GlaxoSmithKline, 1250 S Collegeville Rd, Collegeville, PA, USA
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14
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Zhang L, Tian S, Zhao M, Yang T, Quan S, Yang Q, Song L, Yang X. SUV39H1-DNMT3A-mediated epigenetic regulation of Tim-3 and galectin-9 in the cervical cancer. Cancer Cell Int 2020; 20:325. [PMID: 32699524 PMCID: PMC7370487 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-020-01380-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Methylation of histone 3 at lysine 9 (H3K9) and DNA methylation are epigenetic marks correlated with genes silencing. The tumor microenvironment significantly influences therapeutic responses and clinical outcomes. The epigenetic-regulation mechanism of the costimulatory factors Tim-3 and galectin-9 in cervical cancer remains unknown. Methods The methylation status of HAVCR2 and LGALS9 were detected by MS-PCR in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines. The underlying molecular mechanism of SUV39H1-DNMT3A-Tim-3/galectin-9 regulation was elucidated using cervical cancer cell lines containing siRNA or/and over-expression system. Confirmation of the regulation of DNMT3A by SUV39H1 used ChIP-qPCR. Results SUV39H1 up-regulates H3K9me3 expression at the DNMT3A promoter region, which in turn induced expression of DNMT3A in cervical cancer. In addition, the mechanistic studies indicate that DNMT3A mediates the epigenetic modulation of the HAVCR2 and LGALS9 genes by directly binding to their promoter regions in vitro. Moreover, in an in vivo assay, the expression profile of SUV39H1 up-regulates the level of H3K9me3 at the DNMT3A promoter region was found to correlate with Tim-3 and galectin-9 cellular expression level. Conclusion These results indicate that SUV39H1-DNMT3A is a crucial Tim-3 and galectin-9 regulatory axis in cervical cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No.277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, 710061 China
| | - Sijuan Tian
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No.277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, 710061 China
| | - Minyi Zhao
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No.277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, 710061 China
| | - Ting Yang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No.277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, 710061 China
| | - Shimin Quan
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No.277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, 710061 China
| | - Qing Yang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No.277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, 710061 China
| | - Lihua Song
- School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240 China
| | - Xiaofeng Yang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No.277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, 710061 China
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15
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Saleh R, Toor SM, Sasidharan Nair V, Elkord E. Role of Epigenetic Modifications in Inhibitory Immune Checkpoints in Cancer Development and Progression. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1469. [PMID: 32760400 PMCID: PMC7371937 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A balance between co-inhibitory and co-stimulatory signals in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is critical to suppress tumor development and progression, primarily via maintaining effective immunosurveillance. Aberrant expression of immune checkpoints (ICs), including programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM-3), lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3) and T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT), can create an immune-subversive environment, which helps tumor cells to evade immune destruction. Recent studies showed that epigenetic modifications play critical roles in regulating the expression of ICs and their ligands in the TME. Reports showed that the promoter regions of genes encoding ICs/IC ligands can undergo inherent epigenetic alterations, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications (acetylation and methylation). These epigenetic aberrations can significantly contribute to the transcriptomic upregulation of ICs and their ligands. Epigenetic therapeutics, including DNA methyltransferase and histone deacetylase inhibitors, can be used to revert these epigenetic anomalies acquired during the progression of disease. These discoveries have established a promising therapeutic modality utilizing the combination of epigenetic and immunotherapeutic agents to restore the physiological epigenetic profile and to re-establish potent host immunosurveillance mechanisms. In this review, we highlight the roles of epigenetic modifications on the upregulation of ICs, focusing on tumor development, and progression. We discuss therapeutic approaches of epigenetic modifiers, including clinical trials in various cancer settings and their impact on current and future anti-cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem Saleh
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar
| | - Salman M Toor
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar
| | - Varun Sasidharan Nair
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar
| | - Eyad Elkord
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar.,Biomedical Research Center, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Manchester, United Kingdom
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16
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Chen X, Pan X, Zhang W, Guo H, Cheng S, He Q, Yang B, Ding L. Epigenetic strategies synergize with PD-L1/PD-1 targeted cancer immunotherapies to enhance antitumor responses. Acta Pharm Sin B 2020; 10:723-733. [PMID: 32528824 PMCID: PMC7276686 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2019.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy strategies targeting the programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1)/programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) pathway in clinical treatments have achieved remarkable success in treating multiple types of cancer. However, owing to the heterogeneity of tumors and individual immune systems, PD-L1/PD-1 blockade still shows slow response rates in controlling malignancies in many patients. Accumulating evidence has shown that an effective response to anti-PD-L1/anti-PD-1 therapy requires establishing an integrated immune cycle. Damage in any step of the immune cycle is one of the most important causes of immunotherapy failure. Impairments in the immune cycle can be restored by epigenetic modification, including reprogramming the environment of tumor-associated immunity, eliciting an immune response by increasing the presentation of tumor antigens, and by regulating T cell trafficking and reactivation. Thus, a rational combination of PD-L1/PD-1 blockade and epigenetic agents may offer great potential to retrain the immune system and to improve clinical outcomes of checkpoint blockade therapy.
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Key Words
- 5-AzaC, 5-azacitidine
- ACE1, angiotensin converting enzyme
- ACP1, human red cell acid phosphatase
- APC, antigen-presenting cell
- BETi, bromodomain and extra-terminal motif inhibitors
- CCL22 (MDC), macrophage-derived chemokine
- CLL, chronic lymphocytic leukemia
- CTA, cancer testis antigen
- CTLA-4, cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4
- CTLs, cytotoxic T lymphocytes
- CX3CL1, C-X3-C motif chemokine ligand 1
- CXCL, CXC chemokine ligand
- Cancer
- DC, dendritic cell
- DNMT1, DNA methyltransferase 1
- DNMTi, DNA methyltransferase inhibitors
- EZH2, enhancer of zeste homolog 2
- Epigenetic regulation
- FDA, U. S. Food and Drug Administration
- FOXP3, forkhead box P3
- H3K27me3, tri-methylation of lysine 27 on histone H3
- HDACi, histone deacetylase inhibitor
- IDO, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase
- IFN-γ, interferon-gamma
- Immune cycle
- Immunotherapy
- LAG-3, lymphocyte activation gene-3
- MDSCs, myeloid-derived suppressor cells
- MHC, major histocompatibility complex
- OS, overall survival
- PD-1, programmed cell death 1
- PD-L1, programmed cell death ligand 1
- PD-L1/PD-1 blockade
- PRC2, polycomb repressive complex 2
- TAA, tumor-associated antigen
- TET2, ten-eleven translocation 2
- TH-1, T helper type 1
- TIL, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes
- TIM-3, T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3
- Tregs, regulatory T cells
- UHRF1, ubiquitin-like PHD and RING finger domain-containing 1
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17
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Lobo J, Jerónimo C, Henrique R. Targeting the Immune system and Epigenetic Landscape of Urological Tumors. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21030829. [PMID: 32012885 PMCID: PMC7037817 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21030829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last years, we have witnessed remarkable advances in targeted therapies for cancer patients. There is a growing effort to either replace or reduce the dose of unspecific, systemic (chemo)therapies, given the associated short- and long-term side effects, by introducing more specific targeted therapies as single or combination agents. Due to the well-known implications of the immune system and epigenetic landscape in modulating cancer development, both have been explored as potential targets in several malignancies, including those affecting the genitourinary tract. As the immune system function is also epigenetically regulated, there is rationale for combining both strategies. However, this is still rather underexplored, namely in urological tumors. We aim to briefly review the use of immune therapies in prostate, kidney, bladder, and testicular cancer, and further describe studies providing supporting evidence on their combination with epigenetic-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Lobo
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (GEBC CI-IPOP) and Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal;
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: (J.L.); (R.H.)
| | - Carmen Jerónimo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (GEBC CI-IPOP) and Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal;
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513 Porto, Portugal
| | - Rui Henrique
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (GEBC CI-IPOP) and Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal;
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: (J.L.); (R.H.)
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18
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Regulation of Immunity in Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11081080. [PMID: 31366131 PMCID: PMC6721298 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11081080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer affects millions of women worldwide, leading to many deaths and significant economic burden. Although there are numerous treatment options available, the huge potentials of immunotherapy in the management of localized and metastatic breast cancer is currently being explored. However, there are significant gaps in understanding the complex interactions between the immune system and breast cancer. The immune system can be pro-tumorigenic and anti-tumorigenic depending on the cells involved and the conditions of the tumor microenvironment. In this review, we discuss current knowledge of breast cancer, including treatment options. We also give a brief overview of the immune system and comprehensively highlight the roles of different cells of the immune system in breast tumorigenesis, including recent research discoveries. Lastly, we discuss some immunotherapeutic strategies for the management of breast cancer.
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19
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Sasidharan Nair V, El Salhat H, Taha RZ, John A, Ali BR, Elkord E. DNA methylation and repressive H3K9 and H3K27 trimethylation in the promoter regions of PD-1, CTLA-4, TIM-3, LAG-3, TIGIT, and PD-L1 genes in human primary breast cancer. Clin Epigenetics 2018; 10:78. [PMID: 29983831 PMCID: PMC6003083 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-018-0512-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background High expression of immune checkpoints in tumor microenvironment plays significant roles in inhibiting anti-tumor immunity, which is associated with poor prognosis and cancer progression. Major epigenetic modifications in both DNA and histone could be involved in upregulation of immune checkpoints in cancer. Methods Expressions of different immune checkpoint genes and PD-L1 were assessed using qRT-PCR, and the underlying epigenetic modifications including CpG methylation and repressive histone abundance were determined using bisulfite sequencing, and histone 3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) and histone 3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) chromatin immunoprecipitation assays (ChIP), respectively. Results We first assessed the expression level of six immune checkpoints/ligands and found that PD-1, CTLA-4, TIM-3, and LAG-3 were significantly upregulated in breast tumor tissues (TT), compared with breast normal tissues (NT). We investigated the epigenetic modifications beyond this upregulation in immune checkpoint genes. Interestingly, we found that CpG islands in the promoter regions of PD-1, CTLA-4, and TIM-3 were significantly hypomethylated in tumor compared with normal tissues. Additionally, CpG islands of PD-L1 promoter were completely demethylated (100%), LAG-3 were highly hypomethylated (80–90%), and TIGIT were poorly hypomethylated (20–30%), in both NT and TT. These demethylation findings are in accordance with the relative expression data that, out of all these genes, PD-L1 was highly expressed and completely demethylated and TIGIT was poorly expressed and hypermethylated in both NT and TT. Moreover, bindings of H3K9me3 and H3K27me3 were found to be reduced in the promoter loci of PD-1, CTLA-4, TIM-3, and LAG-3 in tumor tissues. Conclusion Our data demonstrate that both DNA and histone modifications are involved in upregulation of PD-1, CTLA-4, TIM-3, and LAG-3 in breast tumor tissue and these epigenetic modifications could be useful as diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets in breast cancer. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13148-018-0512-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varun Sasidharan Nair
- 1Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Haytham El Salhat
- 2Oncology Department, Al Noor Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.,3Oncology Department, Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rowaida Z Taha
- 1Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Anne John
- 4Department of Pathology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Bassam R Ali
- 4Department of Pathology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.,5Zayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Eyad Elkord
- 1Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.,6Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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20
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Xu F, Jin T, Zhu Y, Dai C. Immune checkpoint therapy in liver cancer. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2018; 37:110. [PMID: 29843754 PMCID: PMC5975687 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-018-0777-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 226] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Immune checkpoints include stimulatory and inhibitory checkpoint molecules. In recent years, inhibitory checkpoints, including cytotoxic T lymphocyte–associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), have been identified to suppress anti-tumor immune responses in solid tumors. Novel drugs targeting immune checkpoints have succeeded in cancer treatment. Specific PD-1 blockades were approved for treatment of melanoma in 2014 and for treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer in 2015 in the United States, European Union, and Japan. Preclinical and clinical studies show immune checkpoint therapy provides survival benefit for greater numbers of patients with liver cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma, two main primary liver cancers. The combination of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 with anti-CTLA-4 antibodies is being evaluated in phase 1, 2 or 3 trials, and the results suggest that an anti-PD-1 antibody combined with locoregional therapy or other molecular targeted agents is an effective treatment strategy for HCC. In addition, studies on activating co-stimulatory receptors to enhance anti-tumor immune responses have increased our understanding regarding this immunotherapy in liver cancer. Epigenetic modulations of checkpoints for improving the tumor microenvironment also expand our knowledge of potential therapeutic targets in improving the tumor microenvironment and restoring immune recognition and immunogenicity. In this review, we summarize current knowledge and recent developments in immune checkpoint-based therapies for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma and attempt to clarify the mechanisms underlying its effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Splenic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital affiliated to China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning, China.,Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, RC1-North Building, P18-8116, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Tianqiang Jin
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Splenic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital affiliated to China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning, China
| | - Yuwen Zhu
- Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, RC1-North Building, P18-8116, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
| | - Chaoliu Dai
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Splenic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital affiliated to China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning, China.
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21
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Costantini A, Julie C, Dumenil C, Hélias-Rodzewicz Z, Tisserand J, Dumoulin J, Giraud V, Labrune S, Chinet T, Emile JF, Giroux Leprieur E. Predictive role of plasmatic biomarkers in advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated by nivolumab. Oncoimmunology 2018; 7:e1452581. [PMID: 30221046 PMCID: PMC6136870 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2018.1452581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Revised: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors, as nivolumab, are used in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, no associated biomarker is validated in clinical practice with this drug. We investigated herein immune-related blood markers in patients with advanced NSCLC treated with nivolumab. Plasma of 43 consecutive patients were prospectively collected at time of the diagnosis of cancer, at the initiation of nivolumab and at the first tumour evaluation (2 months). Concentrations of PD-L1 (sPD-L1), soluble PD-L2 (sPD-L2), Interleukine-2 (sIl-2), Interferon-gamma (sIFN-γ), and Granzyme B (sGranB) were quantified by ELISA. Cell free RNA was quantified by Reverse Transcriptase -PCR), and plasmatic microRNAs (miRNAs) were evaluated by targeted sequencing. Expression of PD-L1 on tumour biopsies was performed by immunohistochemistry using E13LN. High sPD-L1 at 2 months and increase of sPD-L1 concentrations were associated with poor response and absence of clinical benefit (nivolumab treatment less than 6 months). The variation of sPD-L1 concentrations were confirmed by RNA quantification. sPD-L1 concentrations were not correlated with PD-L1 expression on corresponding tumour samples. Low sGranB at nivolumab initiation was also associated with poor response. High sPD-L1 and low sGranB were associated with poor progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Low sPD-L2, low sIl-2 and high sIFN-γ were associated with grade 3-4 toxicities. Finally, miRNA screening showed that patients with clinical benefit (n = 9) had down-expression of miRNA-320b and -375 compared to patients with early progression at 2 months (n = 9). In conclusion, our results highlight the interest of circulating biomarkers in patients treated with nivolumab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrien Costantini
- EA4340, UVSQ, Paris-Saclay University, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
- Department of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Oncology, APHP – Ambroise Pare Hospital, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - Catherine Julie
- EA4340, UVSQ, Paris-Saclay University, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
- Department of Pathology, APHP – Ambroise Pare Hospital, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - Coraline Dumenil
- EA4340, UVSQ, Paris-Saclay University, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
- Department of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Oncology, APHP – Ambroise Pare Hospital, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - Zofia Hélias-Rodzewicz
- EA4340, UVSQ, Paris-Saclay University, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
- Department of Pathology, APHP – Ambroise Pare Hospital, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - Julie Tisserand
- EA4340, UVSQ, Paris-Saclay University, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
- Department of Pathology, APHP – Ambroise Pare Hospital, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - Jennifer Dumoulin
- EA4340, UVSQ, Paris-Saclay University, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
- Department of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Oncology, APHP – Ambroise Pare Hospital, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - Violaine Giraud
- EA4340, UVSQ, Paris-Saclay University, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
- Department of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Oncology, APHP – Ambroise Pare Hospital, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - Sylvie Labrune
- EA4340, UVSQ, Paris-Saclay University, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
- Department of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Oncology, APHP – Ambroise Pare Hospital, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - Thierry Chinet
- EA4340, UVSQ, Paris-Saclay University, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
- Department of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Oncology, APHP – Ambroise Pare Hospital, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - Jean-François Emile
- EA4340, UVSQ, Paris-Saclay University, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
- Department of Pathology, APHP – Ambroise Pare Hospital, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - Etienne Giroux Leprieur
- EA4340, UVSQ, Paris-Saclay University, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
- Department of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Oncology, APHP – Ambroise Pare Hospital, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
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22
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Spira A, Yurgelun MB, Alexandrov L, Rao A, Bejar R, Polyak K, Giannakis M, Shilatifard A, Finn OJ, Dhodapkar M, Kay NE, Braggio E, Vilar E, Mazzilli SA, Rebbeck TR, Garber JE, Velculescu VE, Disis ML, Wallace DC, Lippman SM. Precancer Atlas to Drive Precision Prevention Trials. Cancer Res 2017; 77:1510-1541. [PMID: 28373404 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-16-2346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Revised: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer development is a complex process driven by inherited and acquired molecular and cellular alterations. Prevention is the holy grail of cancer elimination, but making this a reality will take a fundamental rethinking and deep understanding of premalignant biology. In this Perspective, we propose a national concerted effort to create a Precancer Atlas (PCA), integrating multi-omics and immunity - basic tenets of the neoplastic process. The biology of neoplasia caused by germline mutations has led to paradigm-changing precision prevention efforts, including: tumor testing for mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency in Lynch syndrome establishing a new paradigm, combinatorial chemoprevention efficacy in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), signal of benefit from imaging-based early detection research in high-germline risk for pancreatic neoplasia, elucidating early ontogeny in BRCA1-mutation carriers leading to an international breast cancer prevention trial, and insights into the intricate germline-somatic-immunity interaction landscape. Emerging genetic and pharmacologic (metformin) disruption of mitochondrial (mt) respiration increased autophagy to prevent cancer in a Li-Fraumeni mouse model (biology reproduced in clinical pilot) and revealed profound influences of subtle changes in mt DNA background variation on obesity, aging, and cancer risk. The elaborate communication between the immune system and neoplasia includes an increasingly complex cellular microenvironment and dynamic interactions between host genetics, environmental factors, and microbes in shaping the immune response. Cancer vaccines are in early murine and clinical precancer studies, building on the recent successes of immunotherapy and HPV vaccine immune prevention. Molecular monitoring in Barrett's esophagus to avoid overdiagnosis/treatment highlights an important PCA theme. Next generation sequencing (NGS) discovered age-related clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP). Ultra-deep NGS reports over the past year have redefined the premalignant landscape remarkably identifying tiny clones in the blood of up to 95% of women in their 50s, suggesting that potentially premalignant clones are ubiquitous. Similar data from eyelid skin and peritoneal and uterine lavage fluid provide unprecedented opportunities to dissect the earliest phases of stem/progenitor clonal (and microenvironment) evolution/diversity with new single-cell and liquid biopsy technologies. Cancer mutational signatures reflect exogenous or endogenous processes imprinted over time in precursors. Accelerating the prevention of cancer will require a large-scale, longitudinal effort, leveraging diverse disciplines (from genetics, biochemistry, and immunology to mathematics, computational biology, and engineering), initiatives, technologies, and models in developing an integrated multi-omics and immunity PCA - an immense national resource to interrogate, target, and intercept events that drive oncogenesis. Cancer Res; 77(7); 1510-41. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avrum Spira
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Pathology and Bioinformatics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Matthew B Yurgelun
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ludmil Alexandrov
- Theoretical Division, Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico
| | - Anjana Rao
- Division of Signaling and Gene Expression, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, California
| | - Rafael Bejar
- Department of Medicine, Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Kornelia Polyak
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Marios Giannakis
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ali Shilatifard
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Olivera J Finn
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Madhav Dhodapkar
- Department of Hematology and Immunology, Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Neil E Kay
- Department of Hematology, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Esteban Braggio
- Department of Hematology, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Eduardo Vilar
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Sarah A Mazzilli
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Pathology and Bioinformatics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Timothy R Rebbeck
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Judy E Garber
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Victor E Velculescu
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Pathology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Mary L Disis
- Department of Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine in Women's Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Douglas C Wallace
- Center for Mitochondrial and Epigenomic Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Scott M Lippman
- Department of Medicine, Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California.
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