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Shiravani Z, Mirshekari K, Larki MH, Shafiee N, Haghshenas MR, Ghaderi A, Fattahi MJ. Evaluation of the genetic diversity of KIR genes in patients with endometrial cancer. J Reprod Immunol 2024; 162:104217. [PMID: 38387251 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2024.104217] [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: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) constitutes more than half of all genital cancers in women, with an increasing incidence in different countries. Natural killer cells (NK cells) are kinds of innate immune cells that are controlled by sets of receptors, such as killer cell Ig-like receptors (KIRs), which can inhibit or activate NK cells. In this study, we evaluated the diversity and genetic association of KIRs in confirmed cases of endometrial cancer compared to healthy controls. A total of 151 women with EC and 167 age/race-matched healthy controls were analyzed for KIR genes. Demographic and histopathologic data were gathered in questionnaires, and 16 KIR genes along with two variants of KIR2DS4 (KIR2DS4fl and KIR2DS4del), were genotyped by usingsequence specific primers-polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR) method. A comparison between cases and controls revealed that although there were not any significant differences in A haplotype associated genes and also the variants of KIR2DS4 (p >0.05), B haplotype associated genes such as KIR2DS2 and KIR2DL2 decreased significantly in EC patients in comparison with healthy controls (p=0.03 and p=0.01, respectively). Furthermore, we found that EC mostly developed in cases with the AA genotype; however, the carriers of Bx and C4T4 genotypes were less frequent in patients with EC. Our results revealed that KIR2DS2 and KIR2DL2, along with Bx and C4T4 genotypes, have a protective impact against developing endometrial cancer in Iranians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Shiravani
- Gynecology Oncology Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Kimia Mirshekari
- Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Marjan Hematian Larki
- Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Nargess Shafiee
- Gynecology Oncology Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Haghshenas
- Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Abbas Ghaderi
- Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Javad Fattahi
- Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
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Patel SP, Alonso-Gordoa T, Banerjee S, Wang D, Naidoo J, Standifer NE, Palmer DC, Cheng LY, Kourtesis P, Ascierto ML, Das M, Diamond JR, Hellmann MD, Carneiro BA. Phase 1/2 study of monalizumab plus durvalumab in patients with advanced solid tumors. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e007340. [PMID: 38309722 PMCID: PMC10840023 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-007340] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The combination of monalizumab (anti-NKG2A/CD94) and durvalumab (anti-programmed death ligand-1) may promote antitumor immunity by targeting innate and adaptive immunity. This phase 1/2 study of monalizumab and durvalumab evaluated safety, antitumor activity, and pharmacodynamics in patients with advanced solid tumors. MAIN BODY Immunotherapy-naïve patients aged ≥18 years with advanced disease, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-1, and 1-3 prior lines of systemic therapy in the recurrent/metastatic setting were enrolled. In part 1 (dose escalation), patients received durvalumab 1500 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W) with increasing doses of monalizumab Q2W/Q4W (n=15). Dose expansion in part 1 included patients with cervical cancer (n=15; durvalumab 1500 mg Q4W and monalizumab 750 mg Q2W) or metastatic microsatellite stable (MSS)-colorectal cancer (CRC) (n=15; durvalumab 1500 mg Q4W and monalizumab 750 mg Q4W). In part 2 (dose expansion), patients with MSS-CRC (n=40), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC; n=20), MSS-endometrial cancer (n=40), or ovarian cancer (n=40) received durvalumab 1500 mg Q4W and monalizumab 750 mg Q2W. The primary endpoint was safety. Secondary endpoints included antitumor activity per Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST v1.1). Exploratory analyses included assessment of T-cell and natural killer (NK) cell activation and proliferation in peripheral blood and the tumor microenvironment (TME). The study enrolled 185 patients (part 1, 45; part 2, 140). No dose-limiting toxicities were observed and the maximum tolerated dose was not reached. In part 2, the most common treatment-related adverse events were fatigue (12.1%), asthenia (9.3%), diarrhea (9.3%), pruritus (7.9%), and pyrexia (7.1%). In the expansion cohorts, response rates were 0% (cervical), 7.7% (MSS-CRC), 10% (NSCLC), 5.4% (ovarian), and 0% (MSS-endometrial). Sustained NK cell activation, CD8+ T-cell proliferation, increased serum levels of CXCL10 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10) and CXCL11, and increased tumor infiltration of CD8+ and granzyme B+ cells were observed. CONCLUSIONS Although efficacy was modest, monalizumab plus durvalumab was well tolerated and encouraging immune activation was observed in the peripheral blood and TME. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT02671435.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandip P Patel
- University of California San Diego, Moores Cancer Center, San Diego, California, USA
| | | | - Susana Banerjee
- Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Ding Wang
- Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Jarushka Naidoo
- Johns Hopkins Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Johns Hopkins Medicine The Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Nathan E Standifer
- BioPharmaceuticals Research and Development, AstraZeneca, South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Doug C Palmer
- Oncology Research and Development, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - Lin-Yang Cheng
- Oncology Research and Development, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Maria L Ascierto
- Oncology Research and Development, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - Mayukh Das
- Oncology Research and Development, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | - Benedito A Carneiro
- Legorreta Cancer Center at Brown University, Lifespan Cancer Institute, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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Zhang L, Zhu Q, Zhao Q, Lin X, Song H, Liu H, Zhu G, Lu S, Cao B. Tumor-infiltrating immune cell score as an independent prognostic predictor for endometrial carcinoma: Insights from a comprehensive analysis of the immune landscape. Cancer Rep (Hoboken) 2024; 7:e1939. [PMID: 38017652 PMCID: PMC10809205 DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1939] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune cells are crucial components in the tumor microenvironment and have a significant impact on the outcomes of patients. AIMS Here, we aimed to establish a prognostic score based on different types of tumor-infiltrating immune cells for Endometrial Carcinoma (EC). METHODS AND RESULTS We enrolled and analyzed 516 EC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas. The relative abundance of 22 immune cells were estimated by using the CIBERSORTx algorithm. Cox regression was performed to identify potential prognostic immune cells, which were used to develop a Tumor-infiltrating Immune Cell Score (TICS). The prognostic and incremental value of TICS for overall survival were compared with traditional prognostic factors using the C-index and decision curves. Clustering analysis using all immune cells identified three immune landscape subtypes, which had weak correlation with survival. A TICS was constructed using CD8T cells, resting memory CD4 T cells, activated NK and activated DCs, and classified patients as low-, moderate- and high-risk subgroups. The low-risk subgroup had higher tumor mutation burden and activation of IL2/STAT5, IL2/STAT3 and IFN-gamma response pathways. Conversely, the high-risk subgroup was associated with DNA copy number variation, hypoxia and EMT process. The TICS subgroups significantly predicted overall survival, which was independent of patient age, tumor stage, grade and molecular classification. Moreover, we developed a nomogram incorporating TICS and clinicopathologic factors, which significantly improved the predictive accuracy compared to the clinicopathologic model alone. CONCLUSION The TICS is an effective and independent prognostic predictor for EC patients and may serve as a useful supplement to clinicopathological factors and molecular subtyping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Affiliated Women's and Children's Hospital of Chengdu Medical CollegeChengdu Medical CollegeChengduChina
| | - Qiaoying Zhu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Affiliated Women's and Children's Hospital of Chengdu Medical CollegeChengdu Medical CollegeChengduChina
| | - Qi Zhao
- Department of Biobank, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer CenterUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengduChina
| | - Xueping Lin
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Affiliated Women's and Children's Hospital of Chengdu Medical CollegeChengdu Medical CollegeChengduChina
| | - Hui Song
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Affiliated Women's and Children's Hospital of Chengdu Medical CollegeChengdu Medical CollegeChengduChina
| | - Hong Liu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer CenterUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengduChina
| | - Guiquan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Centre for Oral Diseases, Department of Head and Neck Oncology, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Shun Lu
- Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer CenterUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengduChina
| | - Bangrong Cao
- Department of Biobank, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer CenterUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengduChina
- Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer CenterUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengduChina
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Feng Q, Huang Z, Song L, Wang L, Lu H, Wu L. Combining bulk and single-cell RNA-sequencing data to develop an NK cell-related prognostic signature for hepatocellular carcinoma based on an integrated machine learning framework. Eur J Med Res 2023; 28:306. [PMID: 37649103 PMCID: PMC10466881 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-023-01300-6] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The application of molecular targeting therapy and immunotherapy has notably prolonged the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, multidrug resistance and high molecular heterogeneity of HCC still prevent the further improvement of clinical benefits. Dysfunction of tumor-infiltrating natural killer (NK) cells was strongly related to HCC progression and survival benefits of HCC patients. Hence, an NK cell-related prognostic signature was built up to predict HCC patients' prognosis and immunotherapeutic response. METHODS NK cell markers were selected from scRNA-Seq data obtained from GSE162616 data set. A consensus machine learning framework including a total of 77 algorithms was developed to establish the gene signature in TCGA-LIHC data set, GSE14520 data set, GSE76427 data set and ICGC-LIRI-JP data set. Moreover, the predictive efficacy on ICI response was externally validated by GSE91061 data set and PRJEB23709 data set. RESULTS With the highest C-index among 77 algorithms, a 11-gene signature was established by the combination of LASSO and CoxBoost algorithm, which classified patients into high- and low-risk group. The prognostic signature displayed a good predictive performance for overall survival rate, moderate to high predictive accuracy and was an independent risk factor for HCC patients' prognosis in TCGA, GEO and ICGC cohorts. Compared with high-risk group, low-risk patients showed higher IPS-PD1 blocker, IPS-CTLA4 blocker, common immune checkpoints expression but lower TIDE score, which indicated low-risk patients might be prone to benefiting from ICI treatment. Moreover, a real-world cohort, PRJEB23709, also revealed better immunotherapeutic response in low-risk group. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the present study developed a gene signature based on NK cell-related genes, which offered a novel platform for prognosis and immunotherapeutic response evaluation of HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Feng
- Department of Emergency, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330000, China
| | - Zhihao Huang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 1st min de Road, Nanchang, 330000, China
| | - Lei Song
- Department of General Practice, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330000, China
| | - Le Wang
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330000, China
| | - Hongcheng Lu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 1st min de Road, Nanchang, 330000, China.
| | - Linquan Wu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 1st min de Road, Nanchang, 330000, China.
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Reyes-Aldasoro CC. Modelling the Tumour Microenvironment, but What Exactly Do We Mean by "Model"? Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3796. [PMID: 37568612 PMCID: PMC10416922 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15153796] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The Oxford English Dictionary includes 17 definitions for the word "model" as a noun and another 11 as a verb. Therefore, context is necessary to understand the meaning of the word model. For instance, "model railways" refer to replicas of railways and trains at a smaller scale and a "model student" refers to an exemplary individual. In some cases, a specific context, like cancer research, may not be sufficient to provide one specific meaning for model. Even if the context is narrowed, specifically, to research related to the tumour microenvironment, "model" can be understood in a wide variety of ways, from an animal model to a mathematical expression. This paper presents a review of different "models" of the tumour microenvironment, as grouped by different definitions of the word into four categories: model organisms, in vitro models, mathematical models and computational models. Then, the frequencies of different meanings of the word "model" related to the tumour microenvironment are measured from numbers of entries in the MEDLINE database of the United States National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health. The frequencies of the main components of the microenvironment and the organ-related cancers modelled are also assessed quantitatively with specific keywords. Whilst animal models, particularly xenografts and mouse models, are the most commonly used "models", the number of these entries has been slowly decreasing. Mathematical models, as well as prognostic and risk models, follow in frequency, and these have been growing in use.
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Li Y, Dong H, Dong Y, Wu Q, Jiang N, Luo Q, Chen F. Distribution of CD8 T Cells and NK Cells in the Stroma in Relation to Recurrence or Metastasis of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. Cancer Manag Res 2022; 14:2913-2926. [PMID: 36193054 PMCID: PMC9526428 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s365230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The purpose of this study was to explore the expression and distribution of tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) and their relationship with recurrence and metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods The gene expression profiles of NPC were downloaded from GEO database (GSE53819 and GSE64634). The abundance of TIICs in NPC samples was calculated by the CIBERSORT algorithm, and TIICs with higher expression were screened in NPC. Then, we performed immunohistochemistry experiments to evaluate the expression of selected TIICs in 94 NPC samples from the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University. We further explored the relationship between TIICs and recurrence and metastasis of NPC. Results The results based on the GEO database showed that the expression of CD8 T cells, NK cells, macrophages and plasma cells was higher than that in normal tissues. Immunohistochemistry results showed that CD8 T cells, NK cells, macrophages and plasma cells were mainly expressed in the stroma, and the expression of CD8 T cells and NK cells in the stroma of patients without recurrence or metastasis was significantly higher than that in patients with recurrence or metastasis of NPC. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that patients with high CD8 T cells and high NK cells expression in the stroma had favorable recurrence or metastasis-free survival and overall survival (P<0.05). Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses indicated that CD8 T cells and NK cells in the stroma were independent factors for the recurrence or metastasis of NPC. Conclusion The expression of CD8 T cells, NK cells, macrophages and plasma cells is significantly higher than that in normal tissues. Among them, the expression of CD8 T cells and NK cells is closely related to the recurrence and metastasis of NPC. They are independent factors affecting the recurrence and metastasis of NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Li
- Department of Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hui Dong
- Department of Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yudi Dong
- Department of Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qiaoyuan Wu
- Department of Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ni Jiang
- Department of Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qing Luo
- Department of Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Qing Luo; Fang Chen, Department of Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, 149 Dalian Road, Huichuan District, Zunyi, Guizhou, 563003, People’s Republic of China, Tel +85128608074, Email ;
| | - Fang Chen
- Department of Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China
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Seliger B, Koehl U. Underlying mechanisms of evasion from NK cells as rational for improvement of NK cell-based immunotherapies. Front Immunol 2022; 13:910595. [PMID: 36045670 PMCID: PMC9422402 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.910595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells belong to the family of innate immune cells with the capacity to recognize and kill tumor cells. Different phenotypes and functional properties of NK cells have been described in tumor patients, which could be shaped by the tumor microenvironment. The discovery of HLA class I-specific inhibitory receptors controlling NK cell activity paved the way to the fundamental concept of modulating immune responses that are regulated by an array of inhibitory receptors, and emphasized the importance to explore the potential of NK cells in cancer therapy. Although a whole range of NK cell-based approaches are currently being developed, there are still major challenges that need to be overcome for improved efficacy of these therapies. These include escape of tumor cells from NK cell recognition due to their expression of inhibitory molecules, immune suppressive signals of NK cells, reduced NK cell infiltration of tumors, an immune suppressive micromilieu and limited in vivo persistence of NK cells. Therefore, this review provides an overview about the NK cell biology, alterations of NK cell activities, changes in tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment contributing to immune escape or immune surveillance by NK cells and their underlying molecular mechanisms as well as the current status and novel aspects of NK cell-based therapeutic strategies including their genetic engineering and their combination with conventional treatment options to overcome tumor-mediated evasion strategies and improve therapy efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Seliger
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
- *Correspondence: Barbara Seliger,
| | - Ulrike Koehl
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Immunology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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Busà R, Bulati M, Badami E, Zito G, Maresca DC, Conaldi PG, Ercolano G, Ianaro A. Tissue-Resident Innate Immune Cell-Based Therapy: A Cornerstone of Immunotherapy Strategies for Cancer Treatment. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:907572. [PMID: 35757002 PMCID: PMC9221069 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.907572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy has led to impressive advances in cancer treatment. Unfortunately, in a high percentage of patients is difficult to consistently restore immune responses to eradicate established tumors. It is well accepted that adaptive immune cells, such as B lymphocytes, CD4+ helper T lymphocytes, and CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs), are the most effective cells able to eliminate tumors. However, it has been recently reported that innate immune cells, including natural killer cells (NK), dendritic cells (DC), macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), represent important contributors to modulating the tumor microenvironment and shaping the adaptive tumor response. In fact, their role as a bridge to adaptive immunity, make them an attractive therapeutic target for cancer treatment. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the pleiotropic role of tissue-resident innate immune cells in different tumor contexts. In addition, we discuss how current and future therapeutic approaches targeting innate immune cells sustain the adaptive immune system in order to improve the efficacy of current tumor immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalia Busà
- Research Department, Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies (IRCCS ISMETT), Palermo, Italy
| | - Matteo Bulati
- Research Department, Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies (IRCCS ISMETT), Palermo, Italy
| | - Ester Badami
- Research Department, Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies (IRCCS ISMETT), Palermo, Italy
- Ri.MED Foundation, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Zito
- Research Department, Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies (IRCCS ISMETT), Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Pier Giulio Conaldi
- Research Department, Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies (IRCCS ISMETT), Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ercolano
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
- *Correspondence: Giuseppe Ercolano,
| | - Angela Ianaro
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Peña-romero AC, Orenes-piñero E. Dual Effect of Immune Cells within Tumour Microenvironment: Pro- and Anti-Tumour Effects and Their Triggers. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:1681. [PMID: 35406451 PMCID: PMC8996887 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14071681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Our body is constantly exposed to pathogens or external threats, but with the immune response that our body can develop, we can fight off and defeat possible attacks or infections. Nevertheless, sometimes this threat comes from an internal factor. Situations such as the existence of a tumour also cause our immune system (IS) to be put on alert. Indeed, the link between immunology and cancer is evident these days, with IS being used as one of the important targets for treating cancer. Our IS is able to eliminate those abnormal or damaged cells found in our body, preventing the uncontrolled proliferation of tumour cells that can lead to cancer. However, in several cases, tumour cells can escape from the IS. It has been observed that immune cells, the extracellular matrix, blood vessels, fat cells and various molecules could support tumour growth and development. Thus, the developing tumour receives structural support, irrigation and energy, among other resources, making its survival and progression possible. All these components that accompany and help the tumour to survive and to grow are called the tumour microenvironment (TME). Given the importance of its presence in the tumour development process, this review will focus on one of the components of the TME: immune cells. Immune cells can support anti-tumour immune response protecting us against tumour cells; nevertheless, they can also behave as pro-tumoural cells, thus promoting tumour progression and survival. In this review, the anti-tumour and pro-tumour immunity of several immune cells will be discussed. In addition, the TME influence on this dual effect will be also analysed.
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Wang F, Qualls AE, Marques-Fernandez L, Colucci F. Biology and pathology of the uterine microenvironment and its natural killer cells. Cell Mol Immunol 2021; 18:2101-13. [PMID: 34426671 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-021-00739-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissues are the new frontier of discoveries in immunology. Cells of the immune system are an integral part of tissue physiology and immunity. Determining how immune cells inhabit, housekeep, and defend gut, lung, brain, liver, uterus, and other organs helps revealing the intimate details of tissue physiology and may offer new therapeutic targets to treat pathologies. The uterine microenvironment modulates the development and function of innate lymphoid cells [ILC, largely represented by natural killer (NK) cells], macrophages, T cells, and dendritic cells. These immune cells, in turn, contribute to tissue homeostasis. Regulated by ovarian hormones, the human uterine mucosa (endometrium) undergoes ~400 monthly cycles of breakdown and regeneration from menarche to menopause, with its fibroblasts, glands, blood vessels, and immune cells remodeling the tissue into the transient decidua. Even more transformative changes occur upon blastocyst implantation. Before the placenta is formed, the endometrial glands feed the embryo by histiotrophic nutrition while the uterine spiral arteries are stripped of their endothelial layer and smooth muscle actin. This arterial remodeling is carried out by invading fetal trophoblast and maternal immune cells, chiefly uterine NK (uNK) cells, which also assist fetal growth. The transformed arteries no longer respond to maternal stimuli and meet the increasing demands of the growing fetus. This review focuses on how the everchanging uterine microenvironment affects uNK cells and how uNK cells regulate homeostasis of the decidua, placenta development, and fetal growth. Determining these pathways will help understand the causes of major pregnancy complications.
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Rizzo AE, Gordon JC, Berard AR, Burgener AD, Avril S. The Female Reproductive Tract Microbiome-Implications for Gynecologic Cancers and Personalized Medicine. J Pers Med 2021; 11:546. [PMID: 34208337 PMCID: PMC8231212 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11060546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The microbial colonization of the lower female reproductive tract has been extensively studied over the past few decades. In contrast, the upper female reproductive tract including the uterine cavity and peritoneum where the ovaries and fallopian tubes reside were traditionally assumed to be sterile under non-pathologic conditions. However, recent studies applying next-generation sequencing of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene have provided convincing evidence for the existence of an upper female reproductive tract microbiome. While the vaginal microbiome and its importance for reproductive health outcomes has been extensively studied, the microbiome of the upper female reproductive tract and its relevance for gynecologic cancers has been less studied and will be the focus of this article. This targeted review summarizes the pertinent literature on the female reproductive tract microbiome in gynecologic malignancies and its anticipated role in future research and clinical applications in personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony E. Rizzo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; (A.E.R.); (J.C.G.)
| | - Jennifer C. Gordon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; (A.E.R.); (J.C.G.)
| | - Alicia R. Berard
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, Canada;
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Adam D. Burgener
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, Canada;
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Stefanie Avril
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
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12
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Guo C, Tang Y, Zhang Y, Li G. Mining TCGA Data for Key Biomarkers Related to Immune Microenvironment in Endometrial cancer by Immune Score and Weighted Correlation Network Analysis. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:645388. [PMID: 33869285 PMCID: PMC8048410 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.645388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most lethal gynecological cancers around the world. The aim of this study is to identify the potential immune microenvironment-related biomarkers associated with the prognosis for EC. Methods: RNA-seq data and clinical information of EC patients were derived from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The immune score of each EC sample was obtained by ESTIMATE algorithm. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify the interesting module and potential key genes concerning the immune score. The expression patterns of the key genes were then verified via the GEPIA database. Finally, CIBERSORT was applied to evaluate the relative abundances of 22 immune cell types in EC. Results: Immune scores were significantly associated with tumor grade and histology of EC, and high immune scores may exert a protective influence on the survival outcome for EC. WGCNA indicated that the black module was significantly correlated with the immune score. Function analysis revealed it mainly involved in those terms related to immune regulation and inflammatory response. Moreover, 11 key genes (APOL3, C10orf54, CLEC2B, GIMAP1, GIMAP4, GIMAP6, GIMAP7, GIMAP8, GYPC, IFFO1, TAGAP) were identified from the black module, validated by the GEPIA database, and revealed strong correlations with infiltration levels of multiple immune cell types, as was the prognosis of EC. Conclusion: In this study, 11 key genes showed abnormal expressions and strong correlations with immune infiltration in EC, most of which were significantly associated with the prognosis of EC. These findings made them promising therapeutic targets for the treatment of EC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengbin Guo
- Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuqin Tang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yongqiang Zhang
- Molecular Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Gen Li
- Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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13
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Abstract
Natural killer cells are powerful effectors of innate immunity that constitute a first line of defense against cancer. NK cells express an array of germline-encoded receptors which allow them to eliminate transformed cells and spare normal, healthy cells. Owing to their ability to kill circulating tumor cells, NK cells play a major role in the protection against cancer metastases. There is also convincing evidence that NK cells protect against some hematological cancers such as acute myeloid leukemia. However, the importance of NK cells for the control of established solid tumors is rather uncertain. Several mechanisms impede NK cell-mediated elimination of solid tumors, starting with the incapacity of NK cells to infiltrate the core of the tumor. In addition, immune escape mechanisms are at play in both solid and hematological cancers. These include the immunoediting of tumor cells and aberrant chronic inflammation that renders NK cells ineffective. In this chapter, I review the phenotypic characteristics of NK cells within the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, I describe the mechanisms by which NK cells contribute to antitumor immunity. Finally, I review the different immune-evasion factors that impair NK cell activity against cancer.
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14
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Chen B, Wang D, Li J, Hou Y, Qiao C. Screening and Identification of Prognostic Tumor-Infiltrating Immune Cells and Genes of Endometrioid Endometrial Adenocarcinoma: Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas Database and Bioinformatics. Front Oncol 2020; 10:554214. [PMID: 33335850 PMCID: PMC7737471 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.554214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma (EEA) is one of the most common tumors in the female reproductive system. With the further understanding of immune regulation mechanism in tumor microenvironment, immunotherapy is emerging in tumor treatment. However, there are few systematic studies on EEA immune infiltration. Methods In this study, prognostic tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) and related genes of EEA were comprehensively analyzed for the first time through the bioinformatics method with CIBERSORT algorithm as the core. Gene expression profile data were downloaded from the TCGA database, and the abundance ratio of TIICs was obtained. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression analysis were used to identify prognostic TIICs. EEA samples were grouped according to the risk score in Cox regression model. Differential analysis and functional enrichment analyses were performed on high- and low-risk groups to find survival-related hub genes, which were verified by Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER). Result Four TIICs including memory CD4+ T cells, regulatory T cells, natural killer cells and dendritic cells were identified. And two hub gene modules were found, in which six hub genes including APOL1, CCL17, RBP4, KRT15, KRT71, and KRT79 were significantly related to overall survival and were closely correlated with some certain TIICs in the validation of TIMER. Conclusion In this study, four prognostic TIICs and six hub genes were found to be closely related to EEA. These findings provided new potential targets for EEA immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingnan Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Higher Education of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Di Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jiapo Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Higher Education of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Yue Hou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Higher Education of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Chong Qiao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Higher Education of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
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15
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Nersesian S, Schwartz SL, Grantham SR, MacLean LK, Lee SN, Pugh-Toole M, Boudreau JE. NK cell infiltration is associated with improved overall survival in solid cancers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Transl Oncol 2020; 14:100930. [PMID: 33186888 PMCID: PMC7670197 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2020.100930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The immune landscape of a tumor is highly connected to patient prognosis and response to treatment, but little is known about how natural killer (NK) cells predict overall survival (OS) among patients with solid tumors. We present the first meta-analysis on NK cell infiltration into solid tumors as a prognostic indicator for OS, considering cancer types independently, and together. Samples were collected from 1973 to 2016 with results published between 1989 and 2020. From 53 studies, we found that NK cell infiltration corresponds with decreased risk of death (HR=0.34, 95% CI: 0.26-0.46; p<0.0001). Among studies that investigated the prognostic potential of NK cells in specific regions of the tumor, intraepithelial infiltration was better predictive of OS than NK infiltration in the tumor-adjacent stroma. Generally, NK cell infiltration is lower in advanced-stage and lower-grade tumors; nevertheless, it remains prognostically beneficial. This meta-analysis highlights an important prognostic role of NK cells in solid tumors, but exposes that few studies have considered the contributions of NK cells. Toward NK cell-based immunotherapies, it will be important to understand the conditions under which NK cells can be effective agents of tumor control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Nersesian
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Sarah L Schwartz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Stephanie R Grantham
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Leah K MacLean
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Stacey N Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Morgan Pugh-Toole
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Jeanette E Boudreau
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada; Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
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16
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Zhang S, Liu W, Hu B, Wang P, Lv X, Chen S, Shao Z. Prognostic Significance of Tumor-Infiltrating Natural Killer Cells in Solid Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1242. [PMID: 32714321 PMCID: PMC7343909 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Tumor-infiltrating natural killer (NK) cells (TINKs) are crucial immune cells in tumor defense, and might be related to tumor prognosis. However, the results were discrepant among different studies. The present meta-analysis was performed to comprehensively assess the prognostic value of NK cell markers in solid tumor tissues. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE were searched to identify original researches reporting the prognostic significance of TINKs in solid tumors. NK cell markers CD56, CD57, NKp30, and NKp46 were included in the analysis. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of pooled overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were calculated by STATA software 14.0 to assess the prognostic significance. Results : Of the 56 included studies, there were 18 studies on CD56, 31 studies on CD57, 1 study on NKp30, and 7 studies on NKp46. High levels of CD56, CD57, NKp30, and NKp46 were significantly correlated with better OS of patients with solid malignancies (HR = 0.473, 95%CI: 0.315–0.710, p < 0.001; HR = 0.484, 95%CI: 0.380–0.616, p < 0.001; HR = 0.34, 95%CI: 0.14–0.80, p = 0.014; HR = 0.622, 95%CI: 0.470–0.821, p < 0.001, respectively). Our results also revealed that CD56, CD57, and NKp46 could act as independent prognostic predictors for favorable OS (HR = 0.372, 95%CI: 0.261–0.531, p < 0.001; HR = 0.525, 95%CI: 0.346–0.797, p = 0.003; HR = 0.559, 95%CI: 0.385–0.812, p = 0.002, respectively). Conclusions : Our results indicated that high levels of NK cell markers in solid tumor tissues could predict favorable prognosis for solid tumor patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Weijian Liu
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Binwu Hu
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiao Lv
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Songfeng Chen
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zengwu Shao
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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17
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Zhan L, Liu X, Zhang J, Cao Y, Wei B. Immune disorder in endometrial cancer: Immunosuppressive microenvironment, mechanisms of immune evasion and immunotherapy. Oncol Lett 2020; 20:2075-2090. [PMID: 32782525 PMCID: PMC7400772 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2020.11774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy is an emerging clinical approach that has gained traction over the past decade as a novel treatment option for lung cancer and melanoma. Notably, researchers have made marked improvements in the treatment of endometrial cancer (EC), and potential immune responses have been identified in patients with EC, thereby offering the possibility of exploring immunotherapy for EC. Nevertheless, various needs remain unmet, and immunotherapy applications in EC have yielded limited success, as only a minority of patients exhibited a clinical response. Therefore, further understanding of immune dysfunction associated with EC is still required. The present review describes recent findings regarding the immunosuppressive microenvironment of EC, with emphasis on immune evasion mechanisms and immunotherapy in EC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, P.R. China.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, P.R. China
| | - Xiaojing Liu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, P.R. China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, P.R. China
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, P.R. China
| | - Bing Wei
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, P.R. China
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18
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Ben Yahia H, Boujelbene N, Babay W, Ben Safta I, Dhouioui S, Zemni I, Ali Ayadi M, Charfi L, Ouzari HI, Rebmann V, Rizzo R, Mrad K, Driss M, Zidi I. Expression analysis of immune-regulatory molecules HLA-G, HLA-E and IDO in endometrial cancer. Hum Immunol 2020; 81:305-313. [PMID: 32273131 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2020.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 03/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
HLA-G has been widely implicated in advanced cancers through different pathways of immunosuppression allowing tumor escape. Contrarily, HLA-E has a controversial role in the tumor escape from the immune system. IDO catabolic enzyme is known to be up-regulated in many tumors types allowing their immune escape. Based on these considerations, we investigated the expression of HLA-G, HLA-E and IDO molecules in endometrial cancer (EC) and their association with prognostic clinicopathologic parameters. Their expression were checked in tumoral and adjacent endometrial tissues. Both HLA-G and IDO immunostaining were significantly increased in EC tissues compared to normal residual endometrial glands (Mann Whitney U-test, p = 0.0001 and p = 0,020 respectively). However, HLA-E was highly expressed in tumoral tissues as well as in normal residual endometrial glands (respectively, 100% and 81.8%). Increased HLA-G expression levels were observed in high histological grade (grade 3), and in the non-endometrioid type 2 EC. Unexpectedly, patients with IDO Low expression had significantly impaired overall survival compared to patients with IDO High (log-rank p = 0.021). Conversely, HLA-E low expression was associated to an improved overall survival EC (log-rank p = 0.004). We concluded that, HLA-G and IDO are highly expressed in EC compared to adjacent normal endometrial tissues, that might be interesting for the EC outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamza Ben Yahia
- Laboratory Microorganismes and Active Biomolecules, Sciences Faculty of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Nadia Boujelbene
- Laboratory Microorganismes and Active Biomolecules, Sciences Faculty of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia; Department of Anatomopathology, Salah Azaiz Institute, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Wafa Babay
- Laboratory Microorganismes and Active Biomolecules, Sciences Faculty of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Inès Ben Safta
- Surgical Oncology Department, Salah Azaiz Institute of Cancer, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Sabrine Dhouioui
- Laboratory Microorganismes and Active Biomolecules, Sciences Faculty of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Inès Zemni
- Surgical Oncology Department, Salah Azaiz Institute of Cancer, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Ali Ayadi
- Surgical Oncology Department, Salah Azaiz Institute of Cancer, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Lamia Charfi
- Department of Anatomopathology, Salah Azaiz Institute, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Hadda Imene Ouzari
- Laboratory Microorganismes and Active Biomolecules, Sciences Faculty of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Vera Rebmann
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, Virchowstr. 179, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Roberta Rizzo
- Department of Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, Section Microbiology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Karima Mrad
- Laboratory Microorganismes and Active Biomolecules, Sciences Faculty of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia; Department of Anatomopathology, Salah Azaiz Institute, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Maha Driss
- Department of Anatomopathology, Salah Azaiz Institute, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Inès Zidi
- Laboratory Microorganismes and Active Biomolecules, Sciences Faculty of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
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19
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Bruno V, Corrado G, Baci D, Chiofalo B, Carosi MA, Ronchetti L, Piccione E, Albini A, Noonan DM, Piaggio G, Vizza E. Endometrial Cancer Immune Escape Mechanisms: Let Us Learn From the Fetal-Maternal Interface. Front Oncol 2020; 10:156. [PMID: 32226771 PMCID: PMC7080858 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The immune escape mechanisms at the base of tumor progression in endometrial cancer mimic immune tolerance mechanisms occurring at the maternal-fetal interface. The biological and immunological processes behind the maternal-fetal interface are finely tuned in time and space during embryo implantation and subsequent pregnancy stages; conversely, those behind cancer progression are often aberrant. The environment composition at the maternal-fetal interface parallels the pro-tumor microenvironment identified in many cancers, pointing to the possibility for the use of the maternal-fetal interface as a model to depict immune therapeutic targets in cancer. The framework of cancer environment signatures involved in immune adaptations, precisely timed in cancer progression, could reveal a specific "immune clock" in endometrial cancer, which might guide clinicians in patient risk class assessment, diagnostic workup, management, surgical and therapeutic approach, and surveillance strategies. Here, we review studies approaching this hypothesis, focusing on what is known so far about oncofetal similarities in immunity with the idea to individualize personalized immunotherapy targets, through the downregulation of the immune escape stage or the reactivation of the pro-inflammatory processes suppressed by the tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Bruno
- Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Department of Experimental Clinical Oncology, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Giacomo Corrado
- Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Department of Women and Children Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS-Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Denisa Baci
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Benito Chiofalo
- Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Department of Experimental Clinical Oncology, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Antonia Carosi
- Anatomy Pathology Unit, Department of Research, Diagnosis and Innovative Technologies, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Livia Ronchetti
- Anatomy Pathology Unit, Department of Research, Diagnosis and Innovative Technologies, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Emilio Piccione
- Section of Gynecology, Academic Department of Surgical Sciences, Tor Vergata University Hospital, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Adriana Albini
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.,Vascular Biology and Angiogenesis Laboratory, Science and Technology Pole (PST), IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Douglas M Noonan
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.,Vascular Biology and Angiogenesis Laboratory, Science and Technology Pole (PST), IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Piaggio
- Department of Research, Diagnosis and Innovative Technologies, UOSD SAFU, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Vizza
- Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Department of Experimental Clinical Oncology, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
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20
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Chen P, Yang Y, Zhang Y, Jiang S, Li X, Wan J. Identification of prognostic immune-related genes in the tumor microenvironment of endometrial cancer. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:3371-3387. [PMID: 32074080 PMCID: PMC7066904 DOI: 10.18632/aging.102817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common gynecologic malignancies. To identify potential prognostic biomarkers for EC, we analyzed the relationship between the EC tumor microenvironment and gene expression profiles. Using the ESTIMATE R tool, we found that immune and stromal scores correlated with clinical data and the prognosis of EC patients. Based on the immune and stromal scores, 387 intersection differentially expressed genes were identified. Eight immune-related genes were then identified using two machine learning algorithms. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that these genes were mainly associated with T cell activation and response. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that expression of TMEM150B, CACNA2D2, TRPM5, NOL4, CTSW, and SIGLEC1 significantly correlated with overall survival times of EC patients. In addition, using the TIMER algorithm, we found that expression of TMEM150B, SIGLEC1, and CTSW correlated positively with the tumor infiltration levels of B cells, CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. These findings indicate that the composition of the tumor microenvironment affects the clinical outcomes of EC patients, and suggests that it may provide a basis for development of novel prognostic biomarkers and immunotherapies for EC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peigen Chen
- Department of Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yuebo Yang
- Department of Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Senwei Jiang
- Department of Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xiaomao Li
- Department of Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jing Wan
- Department of Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
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21
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Uterine cancer comprises endometrial carcinoma and the uterine sarcoma. Endometrial carcinomas are the most frequent variant and have early symptoms and a solid diagnostic work up, resulting in a rather fair prognosis. However, in case of advanced stage disease and relapse, treatment options are limited and prognosis is impaired. Uterine sarcomas are rare, often lacking symptoms and no diagnostic tool for correct pre-operative diagnosis are available. Prognosis is poor. RECENT FINDINGS Circulating biomarkers as a liquid biopsy could be beneficial as a diagnostic tool in uterine sarcomas. For both carcinomas and sarcomas, circulating biomarkers could be of use in predicting early disease recurrence. This review in endometrial carcinoma and uterine sarcoma focus on circulating biomarkers; such as proteins; circulating tumor cells; circulating tumor DNA; microRNA; and immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine De Bruyn
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, ImmunOvar Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Thaïs Baert
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, ImmunOvar Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, Kliniken Essen Mitte (KEM), Essen, Germany
| | - Thierry Van den Bosch
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, ImmunOvar Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - An Coosemans
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, ImmunOvar Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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22
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Guo F, Dong Y, Tan Q, Kong J, Yu B. Tissue Infiltrating Immune Cells as Prognostic Biomarkers in Endometrial Cancer: A Meta-Analysis. Dis Markers 2020; 2020:1805764. [PMID: 32076456 DOI: 10.1155/2020/1805764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 01/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Background The association between tumour-infiltrating immune cells and the prognosis of endometrial cancer (EC) is controversial due to the smaller sample sizes and limited statistical power of the extant studies. We carried out a meta-analysis of the relationship between tumour-infiltrating immune cells and EC survival outcomes. Methods A literature search in multiple databases was carried out up to December 2019. Pooled hazard ratio (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by the Z-test to assess the association between infiltrating immune cells and overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), relapse-free survival (RFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and disease-free survival (DFS). A subgroup analysis was performed based on the localisation of immune cells in tumour parenchyma or stroma, immune markers, and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage. Heterogeneity and publication bias between studies were evaluated by Cochran's Q-test and Egger regression test, respectively. Results Seventeen studies were included in the analysis. The pooled HR of OS, PFS, DSS, and DFS indicated that a high CD8+ T cell density was associated with a favorable prognosis in EC patients. A significant relationship was found between a high density of CD45RO+ T cells and a favorable OS in EC patients, but the FoxP3+ T cell density was not associated with either OS or RFS. A high TAM density was associated with a worse PFS. However, a sensitivity analysis indicated that the findings of PFS and DSS in CD8+ T cell and PFS in TAM were not robust results. Conclusion This is the first meta-analysis of the relationship between tumour-infiltrating immune cells and the prognosis of EC. High CD8+ and CD45RO+ T cell densities in tumours were associated with favorable outcomes in EC patients.
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23
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Tinker AV, Hirte HW, Provencher D, Butler M, Ritter H, Tu D, Azim HA, Paralejas P, Grenier N, Hahn SA, Ramsahai J, Seymour L. Dose-Ranging and Cohort-Expansion Study of Monalizumab (IPH2201) in Patients with Advanced Gynecologic Malignancies: A Trial of the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG): IND221. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 25:6052-6060. [PMID: 31308062 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-0298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Monalizumab binds CD94/NKG2A, preventing HLA-E inhibition of tumor lymphocytes. A dose-ranging/cohort expansion trial of monalizumab for recurrent gynecologic malignancies was conducted to determine the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) and to explore clinical activity, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety, and immunogenicity. PATIENTS AND METHODS Participants (and part 2 expansion cohorts) included (i) platinum-sensitive ovarian, (ii) platinum-resistant ovarian, (iii) squamous cervical (CX), and (iv) epithelial endometrial (END) carcinomas. Part 1 assessed monalizumab at 1, 4, or 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks. In part 2, ≥4 patients/cohort underwent pre- and on-treatment tumor biopsies. Preset criteria determined cohort expansion. RESULTS A total of 58 participants were evaluable. The RP2D was 10 mg/kg i.v. every 2 weeks. Dose proportionality and 100% NKG2A saturation were observed. Related adverse events were mild: headache, abdominal pain, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. Grade 3 related adverse events were nausea (1), vomiting (1), dehydration (1), fatigue (2), anorexia (1), dyspnea (1), and proctitis (1). Dose-limiting toxicities were not observed. Hematologic and biochemical changes were mild and not dose related. Best response was SD: part 1, 7 of 18 (39%) [3.4 months (1.4-5.5)], and part 2, 7 of 39 (18%) [1.7 months (CX) to 14.8 months (END)]. Neither a predictive biomarker for SD nor evidence of pharmacodynamic effects was identified. There was a trend to significance between a reduction in lymphocyte HLA-E total score and pharmacodynamics. CONCLUSIONS Monalizumab 10 mg/kg i.v. every 2 week is well tolerated in patients with pretreated gynecologic cancers. Short-term disease stabilization was observed. Future studies should assess combinations with other agents, including immunotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Marcus Butler
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Dongsheng Tu
- Canadian Cancer Trials Group, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hatem A Azim
- Innate Pharma, Research and Development, Marseille, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Lesley Seymour
- Canadian Cancer Trials Group, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
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24
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Ellwanger K, Reusch U, Fucek I, Wingert S, Ross T, Müller T, Schniegler-Mattox U, Haneke T, Rajkovic E, Koch J, Treder M, Tesar M. Redirected optimized cell killing (ROCK®): A highly versatile multispecific fit-for-purpose antibody platform for engaging innate immunity. MAbs 2019; 11:899-918. [PMID: 31172847 PMCID: PMC6601565 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2019.1616506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Redirection of immune cells to efficiently eliminate tumor cells holds great promise. Natural killer cells (NK), macrophages, or T cells are specifically engaged with target cells expressing markers after infection or neoplastic transformation, resulting in their activation and subsequent killing of those targets. Multiple strategies to redirect immunity have been developed in the past two decades, but they have technical hurdles or cause undesirable side-effects, as exemplified by the T cell-based chimeric antigen receptor approaches (CAR-T therapies) or bispecific T cell engager platforms. Our first-in-class bispecific antibody redirecting innate immune cells to tumors (AFM13, a CD30/CD16A-specific innate immune cell engager) has shown signs of clinical efficacy in CD30-positive lymphomas and the potential to be safely administered, indicating a wider therapeutic window compared to T cell engaging therapies. AFM13 is the most advanced candidate from our fit-for-purpose redirected optimized cell killing (ROCK®) antibody platform, which comprises a plethora of CD16A-binding innate immune cell engagers with unique properties. Here, we discuss aspects of this modular platform, including the advantages of innate immune cell engagement over classical monoclonal antibodies and other engager concepts. We also present details on its potential to engineer a fit-for-purpose innate immune cell engager format that can be equipped with unique CD16A domains, modules that influence pharmacokinetic properties and molecular architectures that influence the activation of immune effectors, as well as tumor targeting. The ROCK® platform is aimed at the activation of innate immunity for the effective lysis of tumor cells and holds the promise of overcoming limitations of other approaches that redirect immune cells by widening the therapeutic window.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Uwe Reusch
- a Affimed GmbH, Research Department , Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Ivica Fucek
- a Affimed GmbH, Research Department , Heidelberg , Germany
| | | | - Thorsten Ross
- a Affimed GmbH, Research Department , Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Thomas Müller
- a Affimed GmbH, Research Department , Heidelberg , Germany
| | | | - Torsten Haneke
- a Affimed GmbH, Research Department , Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Erich Rajkovic
- a Affimed GmbH, Research Department , Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Joachim Koch
- a Affimed GmbH, Research Department , Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Martin Treder
- a Affimed GmbH, Research Department , Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Michael Tesar
- a Affimed GmbH, Research Department , Heidelberg , Germany
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25
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Godfrey DI, Le Nours J, Andrews DM, Uldrich AP, Rossjohn J. Unconventional T Cell Targets for Cancer Immunotherapy. Immunity 2018; 48:453-473. [PMID: 29562195 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2018.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 205] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2017] [Revised: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Most studies on the immunotherapeutic potential of T cells have focused on CD8 and CD4 T cells that recognize peptide antigens (Ag) presented by polymorphic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and MHC class II molecules, respectively. However, unconventional T cells, which interact with MHC class Ib and MHC-I like molecules, are also implicated in tumor immunity, although their role therein is unclear. These include unconventional T cells targeting MHC class Ib molecules such as HLA-E and its murine ortholog Qa-1b, natural killer T (NKT) cells, mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, and γδ T cells. Here, we review the current understanding of the roles of these unconventional T cells in tumor immunity and discuss why further studies into the immunotherapeutic potential of these cells is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dale I Godfrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - Jérôme Le Nours
- Infection and Immunity Program and The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Daniel M Andrews
- Department of Immunology and Pathology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Adam P Uldrich
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Jamie Rossjohn
- Infection and Immunity Program and The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia; Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University, School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK.
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26
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Bugide S, Janostiak R, Wajapeyee N. Epigenetic Mechanisms Dictating Eradication of Cancer by Natural Killer Cells. Trends Cancer 2018; 4:553-566. [PMID: 30064663 PMCID: PMC6085095 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2018.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells of the innate immune system are the first line of defense against infectious agents and cancer cells. However, only a few mechanisms that regulate eradication of tumors by NK cells have been identified. In this review, we present an account of epigenetic mechanisms that modulate the ability of NK cells to eradicate cancer cells. To date, several drugs that target epigenetic modifiers have shown clinical efficacy in cancer. Therefore, once a given epigenetic modifier is validated as a regulator of NK cell function, it can be targeted for NK cell-based cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suresh Bugide
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Radoslav Janostiak
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Narendra Wajapeyee
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
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