AAV-Vectored Expression of the Vascular Normalizing Agents 3TSR and Fc3TSR, and the Anti-Angiogenic Bevacizumab Extends Survival in a Murine Model of End-Stage Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma

Thrombospondins: Conserved mediators and modulators of metazoan extracellular matrix

This review provides a personal overview of significant scientific developments in the thrombospondin field during the course of my career. Thrombospondins are multidomain, multimeric, calcium-binding extracellular glycoproteins with context-specific roles in tissue organisation. They act at cell surfaces and within ECM to regulate cell phenotype and signalling, differentiation and assembly of collagenous ECM, along with tissue-specific roles in cartilage, angiogenesis and synaptic function. More recently, intracellular, homeostatic roles have also been identified. Resolution of structures for the major domains of mammalian thrombospondins has facilitated major advances in understanding thrombospondin biology from molecule to tissue; for example, in illuminating molecular consequences of disease-causing coding mutations in human pseudoachrondroplasia. Although principally studied in vertebrates, thrombospondins are amongst the most ancient of animal ECM proteins, with many invertebrates encoding a single thrombospondin and the thrombospondin gene family of vertebrates originating through gene duplications. Moreover, thrombospondins form one branch of a thrombospondin superfamily that debuted at the origin of metazoans. The super-family includes additional sub-groups, present only in invertebrates, that differ in N-terminal domain organisation, share the distinctive TSP C-terminal region domain architecture and, to the limited extent studied to date, apparently contribute to tissue development and organisation. Finally, major lines of translational research are discussed, related to fibrosis; TSP1, TSP2 and inhibition of angiogenesis; and the alleviation of chronic cartilage tissue pathologies in pseudoachrondroplasia.

Multiplex flow cytometry-based assay for quantifying tumor- and virus-associated antibodies induced by immunotherapies

Novel immunotherapies continue to be developed and tested for application against a plethora of diseases. The clinical translation of immunotherapies requires an understanding of their mechanisms. The contributions of antibodies in driving long-term responses following immunotherapies continue to be revealed given their diverse effector functions. Developing an in-depth understanding of the role of antibodies in treatment efficacy is required to optimize immunotherapies and improve the chance of successfully translating them into the clinic. However, analyses of antibody responses can be challenging in the context of antigen-agnostic immunotherapies, particularly in the context of cancers that lack pre-defined target antigens. As such, robust methods are needed to evaluate the capacity of a given immunotherapy to induce beneficial antibody responses, and to identify any therapy-limiting antibodies. We previously developed a comprehensive method for detecting antibody responses induced by antigen-agnostic immunotherapies for application in pre-clinical models of vaccinology and cancer therapy. Here, we extend this method to a high-throughput, flow cytometry-based assay able to identify and quantify isotype-specific virus- and tumor-associated antibody responses induced by immunotherapies using small sample volumes with rapid speed and high sensitivity. This method provides a valuable and flexible protocol for investigating antibody responses induced by immunotherapies, which researchers can use to expand their analyses and optimize their own treatment regimens.

Efficacy evaluation of multi-immunotherapy in ovarian cancer: From bench to bed

Ovarian cancer, one of the most common gynecological malignancies, is characterized by high mortality and poor prognosis. Cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy remain the mainstay of ovarian cancer treatment, and most women experience recurrence after standard care therapies. There is compelling evidence that ovarian cancer is an immunogenic tumor. For example, the accumulation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes is associated with increased survival, while increases in immunosuppressive regulatory T cells are correlated with poor clinical outcomes. Therefore, immunotherapies targeting components of the tumor microenvironment have been gradually integrated into the existing treatment options, including immune checkpoint blockade, adoptive cell therapy, and cancer vaccines. Immunotherapies have changed guidelines for maintenance treatment and established a new paradigm in ovarian cancer treatment. Despite single immunotherapies targeting DNA repair mechanisms, immune checkpoints, and angiogenesis bringing inspiring efficacy, only a subset of patients can benefit much from it. Thus, the multi-immunotherapy investigation remains an active area for ovarian cancer treatment. The current review provides an overview of various clinically oriented forms of multi-immunotherapy and explores potentially effective combinational therapies for ovarian cancer.