Mature Dendritic Cells May Promote High-Avidity Tuning of Vaccine T Cell Responses

Development of dendritic cell loaded MAGE-A2 long peptide; a potential target for tumor-specific T cell-mediated prostate cancer immunotherapy

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men worldwide. Immunotherapy is an emerging treatment modality for cancers that harnesses the immune system's ability to eliminate tumor cells. In particular, dendritic cell (DC) vaccines, have demonstrated promise in eliciting a tumor-specific immune response. In this study, we investigated the potential of using DCs loaded with the MAGE-A2 long peptide to activate T cell cytotoxicity toward PCa cell lines.

METHODS

Here, we generated DCs from monocytes and thoroughly characterized their phenotypic and functional properties. Then, DCs were pulsed with MAGE-A2 long peptide (LP) as an antigen source, and monitored for their transition from immature to mature DCs by assessing the expression levels of several costimulatory and maturation molecules like CD14, HLA-DR, CD40, CD11c, CD80, CD83, CD86, and CCR7. Furthermore, the ability of MAGE-A2 -LP pulsed DCs to stimulate T cell proliferation in a mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) setting and induction of cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) in coculture with autologous T cells were examined. Finally, CTLs were evaluated for their capacity to produce interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and kill PCa cell lines (PC3 and LNCaP).

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that the antigen-pulsed DCs exhibited a strong ability to stimulate the expansion of T cells. Moreover, the induced CTLs displayed substantial cytotoxicity against the target cells and exhibited increased IFN-γ production during activation compared to the controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, this innovative approach proved efficacious in targeting PCa cell lines, showcasing its potential as a foundation for the development and improved PCa cancer immunotherapy.

The safety and anti-tumor effect of multiple peptides-pulsed dendritic cells combined with induced specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes for patients with solid tumors

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore the safety and efficacy of multiple peptide-pulsed autologous dendritic cells (DCs) combined with cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in patients with cancer.

METHODS

Five patients diagnosed with cancer between November 2020 and June 2021 were enrolled and received DC-CTLs therapy. Peripheral blood was collected and antigenic peptides were analyzed. The phenotype and function of DC-CTLs and the immune status of patients were detected using flow cytometry or IFN-γ ELISPOT analysis.

RESULTS

DCs acquired a mature phenotype and expressed high levels of CD80, CD86, CD83, and HLA-DR after co-culture with peptides, and the DC-CTLs also exhibited high levels of IFN-γ. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from post-treatment patients showed a stronger immune response to peptides than those prior to treatment. Importantly, four of five patients maintained a favorable immune status, of which one patient's disease-free survival lasted up to 28.2 months. No severe treatment-related adverse events were observed.

CONCLUSION

Our results show that multiple peptide-pulsed DCs combined with CTLs therapy has manageable safety and promising efficacy for cancer patients, which might provide a precise immunotherapeutic strategy for cancer.

A dendritic/tumor fusion cell vaccine enhances efficacy of nanobody-based CAR-T cells against solid tumor

Background: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is practical in treating cancers of hematopoietic origin, but of that in solid tumors compromises efficacy for the loss of the antigen recognized by the CAR. However, dendritic cell (DC)/tumor fusion vaccines present a spectrum of known or unknown tumor antigens to stimulate T cell expansion and enhanced T cell response. Developing a new strategy of enhanced nanobody-based CAR-T (Nb-CAR-T) cells antitumor activity by DC/tumor fusion vaccines stimulation would provide guidance for more effective CAR-T cell therapies. Methods: Considering the therapeutic potential of nanobody (Nb), we first screened EGFRvIII Nb, then constructed and verified the function of EGFRvIII Nb-CAR-T cells in vitro and in vivo. We further combined DC/tumor fusion vaccines to boost EGFRvIII Nb-CAR-T cells antitumor effect, which was evaluated in vitro Nb-CAR-T cell function and in the tumor-bearing xenograft mouse models. Results: We had for the first time successfully selected EGFRvIII Nb for the generation of the novel EGFRvIII Nb-CAR-T cells. Importantly, our results suggested that DC/tumor fusion vaccines stimulate Nb-CAR-T cells response not only in improving T cell proliferation, T cell activation, cytokine secretion and tumor-specific cytotoxicity in vitro, but also significantly reducing tumor burden, prolonging survival and improving Nb-CAR-T cells infiltration. Conclusions: We have innovatively shown that DC/tumor fusion vaccines significantly enhance the efficacy of Nb-CAR-T cells against solid tumors. This new strategy has provided a promising therapeutic platform for promoting the clinical treatment of CAR-T cells therapy.

WT1 and PRAME RNA-loaded dendritic cell vaccine as maintenance therapy in de novo AML after intensive induction chemotherapy

Intensive induction chemotherapy achieves complete remissions (CR) in >60% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) but overall survival (OS) is poor for relapsing patients not eligible for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Oral azacytidine may be used as maintenance treatment in AML in first remission, but can be associated with substantial side effects, and less toxic strategies should be explored. Twenty AML patients in first CR (CR1) ineligible for allo-HSCT were treated with FDC101, an autologous RNA-loaded mature dendritic cell (mDC) vaccine expressing two leukemia-associated antigens (LAAs). Each dose consisted of 2.5-5 × 106 mDCs per antigen, given weekly until week 4, at week 6, and then monthly, during the 2-year study period. Patients were followed for safety and long-term survival. Treatment was well tolerated, with mild and transient injection site reactions. Eleven of 20 patients (55%) remained in CR, while 4 of 6 relapsing patients achieved CR2 after salvage therapy and underwent allo-HSCT. OS at five years was 75% (95% CI: 50-89), with 70% of patients ≥60 years of age being long-term survivors. Maintenance therapy with this DC vaccine was well tolerated in AML patients in CR1 and was accompanied by encouraging 5-year long-term survival.

Nanotechnology in cervical cancer immunotherapy: Therapeutic vaccines and adoptive cell therapy

Immunotherapy is an emerging method for the treatment of cervical cancer and is more effective than surgery and radiotherapy, especially for recurrent cervical cancer. However, immunotherapy is limited by adverse effects in clinical practice. In recent years, nanotechnology has been widely used for tumor diagnosis, drug delivery, and targeted therapy. In the setting of cervical cancer, nanotechnology can be used to actively or passively target immunotherapeutic agents to tumor sites, thereby enhancing local drug delivery, reducing drug adverse effects, achieving immunomodulation, improving the tumor immune microenvironment, and optimizing treatment efficacy. In this review, we highlight the current status of therapeutic vaccines and adoptive cell therapy in cervical cancer immunotherapy, as well as the application of lipid carriers, polymeric nanoparticles, inorganic nanoparticles, and exosomes in this context.

De-risking clinical trial failure through mechanistic simulation

Drug development typically comprises a combination of pre-clinical experimentation, clinical trials, and statistical data-driven analyses. Therapeutic failure in late-stage clinical development costs the pharmaceutical industry billions of USD per year. Clinical trial simulation represents a key derisking strategy and combining them with mechanistic models allows one to test hypotheses for mechanisms of failure and to improve trial designs. This is illustrated with a T-cell activation model, used to simulate the clinical trials of IMA901, a short-peptide cancer vaccine. Simulation results were consistent with observed outcomes and predicted that responses are limited by peptide off-rates, peptide competition for dendritic cell (DC) binding, and DC migration times. These insights were used to hypothesise alternate trial designs predicted to improve efficacy outcomes. This framework illustrates how mechanistic models can complement clinical, experimental, and data-driven studies to understand, test, and improve trial designs, and how results may differ between humans and mice.

Extracellular vimentin mimics VEGF and is a target for anti-angiogenic immunotherapy

Anti-angiogenic cancer therapies possess immune-stimulatory properties by counteracting pro-angiogenic molecular mechanisms. We report that tumor endothelial cells ubiquitously overexpress and secrete the intermediate filament protein vimentin through type III unconventional secretion mechanisms. Extracellular vimentin is pro-angiogenic and functionally mimics VEGF action, while concomitantly acting as inhibitor of leukocyte-endothelial interactions. Antibody targeting of extracellular vimentin shows inhibition of angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Effective and safe inhibition of angiogenesis and tumor growth in several preclinical and clinical studies is demonstrated using a vaccination strategy against extracellular vimentin. Targeting vimentin induces a pro-inflammatory condition in the tumor, exemplified by induction of the endothelial adhesion molecule ICAM1, suppression of PD-L1, and altered immune cell profiles. Our findings show that extracellular vimentin contributes to immune suppression and functions as a vascular immune checkpoint molecule. Targeting of extracellular vimentin presents therefore an anti-angiogenic immunotherapy strategy against cancer.

The pro-tumorigenic effects of vimentin have been attributed to intracellular functions in tumour cells so far. Here, the authors show that tumour endothelial cells can secrete vimentin as a pro-angiogenic factor and that targeting of vimentin can be used as an immunotherapeutic strategy.

Tertiary lymphoid structures in oral lichen planus and oral epithelial dysplasia with lichenoid features: A comparative study

OBJECTIVE

Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) provide sites for antigen presentation and activation of lymphocytes, promoting their infiltration; thus, enhancing specific immune responses. The aim of this comparative cross-sectional study was to reveal the characteristics and influence of TLSs in oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) with lichenoid features.

METHODS

Clinical information and samples of 51 OLP and 19 OED with lichenoid features were collected. Immunohistochemistry was performed, and the structures where CD20+ B cells and CD3+ T cells aggregated with peripheral lymph node addressin positive (PNAd+) vessels were defined as TLSs. The results and clinical information were analysed.

RESULT

TLS were found in 44 (86.3%) patients with OLP and 19 (100%) patients with OED. The TLS score was higher in OED group (p = 0.023), accompanied by an increased number of PNAd+ vessels. The TLS was significantly correlated with PNAd+ vessels (p = 0.027), CD20+ B (p < 0.001) and CD208+ dendritic cells (p = 0.001). Foxp3+ Treg cells but not CD8+ T cells infiltrated more severely in OED (p = 0.003) and increased when TLS score was high (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed the widespread development of TLSs in the OLP and OED. The presence of TLSs showed a close relationship with dysplasia and may increase malignant potency by over-inducing Treg cells.

CcpA- and Shm2-Pulsed Myeloid Dendritic Cells Induce T-Cell Activation and Enhance the Neutrophilic Oxidative Burst Response to Aspergillus fumigatus

Aspergillus fumigatus causes life-threatening opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. As therapeutic outcomes of invasive aspergillosis (IA) are often unsatisfactory, the development of targeted immunotherapy remains an important goal. Linking the innate and adaptive immune system, dendritic cells are pivotal in anti-Aspergillus defense and have generated interest as a potential immunotherapeutic approach in IA. While monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) require ex vivo differentiation, antigen-pulsed primary myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) may present a more immediate platform for immunotherapy. To that end, we compared the response patterns and cellular interactions of human primary mDCs and moDCs pulsed with an A. fumigatus lysate and two A. fumigatus proteins (CcpA and Shm2) in a serum-free, GMP-compliant medium. CcpA and Shm2 triggered significant upregulation of maturation markers in mDCs and, to a lesser extent, moDCs. Furthermore, both A. fumigatus proteins elicited the release of an array of key pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and CCL3 from both DC populations. Compared to moDCs, CcpA- and Shm2-pulsed mDCs exhibited greater expression of MHC class II antigens and stimulated stronger proliferation and IFN-γ secretion from autologous CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cells. Moreover, supernatants of CcpA- and Shm2-pulsed mDCs significantly enhanced the oxidative burst in allogeneic neutrophils co-cultured with A. fumigatus germ tubes. Taken together, our in vitro data suggest that ex vivo CcpA- and Shm2-pulsed primary mDCs have the potential to be developed into an immunotherapeutic approach to tackle IA.