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García-Domínguez DJ, López-Enríquez S, Alba G, Garnacho C, Jiménez-Cortegana C, Flores-Campos R, de la Cruz-Merino L, Hajji N, Sánchez-Margalet V, Hontecillas-Prieto L. Cancer Nano-Immunotherapy: The Novel and Promising Weapon to Fight Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1195. [PMID: 38256268 PMCID: PMC10816838 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a complex disease that, despite advances in treatment and the greater understanding of the tumor biology until today, continues to be a prevalent and lethal disease. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery are the conventional treatments, which have increased the survival for cancer patients. However, the complexity of this disease together with the persistent problems due to tumor progression and recurrence, drug resistance, or side effects of therapy make it necessary to explore new strategies that address the challenges to obtain a positive response. One important point is that tumor cells can interact with the microenvironment, promoting proliferation, dissemination, and immune evasion. Therefore, immunotherapy has emerged as a novel therapy based on the modulation of the immune system for combating cancer, as reflected in the promising results both in preclinical studies and clinical trials obtained. In order to enhance the immune response, the combination of immunotherapy with nanoparticles has been conducted, improving the access of immune cells to the tumor, antigen presentation, as well as the induction of persistent immune responses. Therefore, nanomedicine holds an enormous potential to enhance the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Here, we review the most recent advances in specific molecular and cellular immunotherapy and in nano-immunotherapy against cancer in the light of the latest published preclinical studies and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J. García-Domínguez
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain; (D.J.G.-D.); (S.L.-E.); (G.A.); (C.J.-C.); (R.F.-C.); (N.H.)
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, IBiS, 41013 Seville, Spain;
| | - Soledad López-Enríquez
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain; (D.J.G.-D.); (S.L.-E.); (G.A.); (C.J.-C.); (R.F.-C.); (N.H.)
| | - Gonzalo Alba
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain; (D.J.G.-D.); (S.L.-E.); (G.A.); (C.J.-C.); (R.F.-C.); (N.H.)
| | - Carmen Garnacho
- Department of Normal and Pathological Cytology and Histology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain;
| | - Carlos Jiménez-Cortegana
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain; (D.J.G.-D.); (S.L.-E.); (G.A.); (C.J.-C.); (R.F.-C.); (N.H.)
| | - Rocío Flores-Campos
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain; (D.J.G.-D.); (S.L.-E.); (G.A.); (C.J.-C.); (R.F.-C.); (N.H.)
- Oncology Service, Department of Medicines, School of Medicine, Virgen Macarena University Hospital, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain
| | - Luis de la Cruz-Merino
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, IBiS, 41013 Seville, Spain;
- Oncology Service, Department of Medicines, School of Medicine, Virgen Macarena University Hospital, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain
| | - Nabil Hajji
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain; (D.J.G.-D.); (S.L.-E.); (G.A.); (C.J.-C.); (R.F.-C.); (N.H.)
- Cancer Division, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Víctor Sánchez-Margalet
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain; (D.J.G.-D.); (S.L.-E.); (G.A.); (C.J.-C.); (R.F.-C.); (N.H.)
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, IBiS, 41013 Seville, Spain;
- Clinical Biochemistry Service, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain
| | - Lourdes Hontecillas-Prieto
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain; (D.J.G.-D.); (S.L.-E.); (G.A.); (C.J.-C.); (R.F.-C.); (N.H.)
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, IBiS, 41013 Seville, Spain;
- Oncology Service, Department of Medicines, School of Medicine, Virgen Macarena University Hospital, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain
- Clinical Biochemistry Service, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain
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Harrer DC, Li SS, Kaljanac M, Barden M, Pan H, Abken H. Fine-tuning the antigen sensitivity of CAR T cells: emerging strategies and current challenges. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1321596. [PMID: 38090558 PMCID: PMC10711209 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1321596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are "living drugs" that specifically recognize their target antigen through an antibody-derived binding domain resulting in T cell activation, expansion, and destruction of cognate target cells. The FDA/EMA approval of CAR T cells for the treatment of B cell malignancies established CAR T cell therapy as an emerging pillar of modern immunotherapy. However, nearly every second patient undergoing CAR T cell therapy is suffering from disease relapse within the first two years which is thought to be due to downregulation or loss of the CAR target antigen on cancer cells, along with decreased functional capacities known as T cell exhaustion. Antigen downregulation below CAR activation threshold leaves the T cell silent, rendering CAR T cell therapy ineffective. With the application of CAR T cells for the treatment of a growing number of malignant diseases, particularly solid tumors, there is a need for augmenting CAR sensitivity to target antigen present at low densities on cancer cells. Here, we discuss upcoming strategies and current challenges in designing CARs for recognition of antigen low cancer cells, aiming at augmenting sensitivity and finally therapeutic efficacy while reducing the risk of tumor relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Christoph Harrer
- Deptartment of Hematology and Internal Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Division of Genetic Immunotherapy, Chair Genetic Immunotherapy, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sin-Syue Li
- Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Division of Genetic Immunotherapy, Chair Genetic Immunotherapy, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Marcell Kaljanac
- Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Division of Genetic Immunotherapy, Chair Genetic Immunotherapy, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Markus Barden
- Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Division of Genetic Immunotherapy, Chair Genetic Immunotherapy, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Hong Pan
- Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Division of Genetic Immunotherapy, Chair Genetic Immunotherapy, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Hinrich Abken
- Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Division of Genetic Immunotherapy, Chair Genetic Immunotherapy, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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Sun Q, Yang Z, Qi X. Design and Application of Hybrid Polymer-Protein Systems in Cancer Therapy. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15092219. [PMID: 37177365 PMCID: PMC10181109 DOI: 10.3390/polym15092219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Polymer-protein systems have excellent characteristics, such as non-toxic, non-irritating, good water solubility and biocompatibility, which makes them very appealing as cancer therapeutics agents. Inspiringly, they can achieve sustained release and targeted delivery of drugs, greatly improving the effect of cancer therapy and reducing side effects. However, many challenges, such as reducing the toxicity of materials, protecting the activities of proteins and controlling the release of proteins, still need to be overcome. In this review, the design of hybrid polymer-protein systems, including the selection of polymers and the bonding forms of polymer-protein systems, is presented. Meanwhile, vital considerations, including reaction conditions and the release of proteins in the design process, are addressed. Then, hybrid polymer-protein systems developed in the past decades for cancer therapy, including targeted therapy, gene therapy, phototherapy, immunotherapy and vaccine therapy, are summarized. Furthermore, challenges for the hybrid polymer-protein systems in cancer therapy are exemplified, and the perspectives of the field are covered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Sun
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
- Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, Beijing 100069, China
- Engineering Research Center of Endogenous Prophylactic of Ministry of Education of China, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Zhenzhen Yang
- Drug Clinical Trial Center, Peking University Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xianrong Qi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
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