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Sharma S, Singh N, Turk AA, Wan I, Guttikonda A, Dong JL, Zhang X, Opyrchal M. Molecular insights into clinical trials for immune checkpoint inhibitors in colorectal cancer: Unravelling challenges and future directions. World J Gastroenterol 2024; 30:1815-1835. [PMID: 38659481 PMCID: PMC11036501 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i13.1815] [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] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a complex disease with diverse etiologies and clinical outcomes. Despite considerable progress in development of CRC therapeutics, challenges remain regarding the diagnosis and management of advanced stage metastatic CRC (mCRC). In particular, the five-year survival rate is very low since mCRC is currently rarely curable. Over the past decade, cancer treatment has significantly improved with the introduction of cancer immunotherapies, specifically immune checkpoint inhibitors. Therapies aimed at blocking immune checkpoints such as PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4 target inhibitory pathways of the immune system, and thereby enhance anti-tumor immunity. These therapies thus have shown promising results in many clinical trials alone or in combination. The efficacy and safety of immunotherapy, either alone or in combination with CRC, have been investigated in several clinical trials. Clinical trials, including KEYNOTE-164 and CheckMate 142, have led to Food and Drug Administration approval of the PD-1 inhibitors pembrolizumab and nivolumab, respectively, for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic microsatellite instability-high or deficient mismatch repair CRC. Unfortunately, these drugs benefit only a small percentage of patients, with the benefits of immunotherapy remaining elusive for the vast majority of CRC patients. To this end, primary and secondary resistance to immunotherapy remains a significant issue, and further research is necessary to optimize the use of immunotherapy in CRC and identify biomarkers to predict the response. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the clinical trials involving immune checkpoint inhibitors in CRC. The underlying rationale, challenges faced, and potential future steps to improve the prognosis and enhance the likelihood of successful trials in this field are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Sharma
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
| | - Naresh Singh
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
| | - Anita Ahmed Turk
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
| | - Isabella Wan
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
| | - Akshay Guttikonda
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
| | - Julia Lily Dong
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
| | - Xinna Zhang
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
- Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
| | - Mateusz Opyrchal
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
- Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
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Ghosh PK, Ghosh A. Dysregulation of noncoding RNA in chordoma; implications in identifying potential targets for novel therapeutic approaches. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:125. [PMID: 38236360 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-09017-9] [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: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Chordoma is a rare form of bone cancer develops in the spinal cord and skull. Instead of conventional (radio/chemotherapies) and targeted therapies, the disease is associated with high rate of recurrence and poor patient survival. Thus, for better disease management, the molecular pathogenesis of chordoma should be studied in detail to identify dysregulated biomolecules that can be targeted by novel therapeutics. Recent research showed frequent dysregulation of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), microRNA (miRNA), and circular RNA (circRNA) in association with aggressive tumor phenotypes like cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis in a variety of cancers, including chordoma. Apart from diagnostic and prognostic importance, noncoding RNAs may serve as promising targets for novel therapeutics in cancer. In this review, we summarized a list of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNA found to be dysregulated in chordoma from available data published in relevant databases (PubMed), as such an approach seems to be rare to date. The dysregulated noncoding RNAs were also associated with adverse tumor phenotypes to assess the impact on disease pathogenesis and, associated downstream molecular pathways were focused. Synthetic compounds and natural products that were reported to target the noncoding RNAs in other malignancies were also listed from published literature and proposed as potential therapeutic agents in chordoma. This review will provide information for further research on chordoma focusing on detailed characterization of dysregulated lncRNAs, miRNAs, and circRNA to understand the disease pathogenesis and, exploration of suitable natural and synthetic products targeting dysregulated non-coding RNAs to develop effective therapeutic measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pramit Kumar Ghosh
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Amlan Ghosh
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
- Genetics of Non-communicable Diseases, Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, 700073, India.
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Rastin F, Javid H, Oryani MA, Rezagholinejad N, Afshari AR, Karimi-Shahri M. Immunotherapy for colorectal cancer: Rational strategies and novel therapeutic progress. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 126:111055. [PMID: 37992445 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111055] [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: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
There are increasing incidences and mortality rates for colorectal cancer in the world. It is common for chemotherapy and radiation given to patients with colorectal cancer to cause toxicities that limit their effectiveness and cause cancer cells to become resistant to these treatments. Additional targeted treatments are needed to improve patient's quality of life and outcomes. Immunotherapy has rapidly emerged as an incredibly exciting and promising avenue for cancer treatment in recent years. This innovative approach provides novel options for tackling solid tumors, effectively establishing itself as a new cornerstone in cancer treatment. Specifically, in the realm of colorectal cancer (CRC), there is great promise in developing new drugs that target immune checkpoints, offering a hopeful and potentially transformative solution. While immunotherapy of CRC has made significant advances, there are still obstacles and limitations. CRC patients have a poor response to treatment because of the immune-suppressing function of their tumor microenvironment (TME). In addition to blocking inhibitory immune checkpoints, checkpoint-blocking antibodies may also boost immune responses against tumors. The review summarizes recent advances in immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for CRC, including CTLA-4, PD-1, PD-L1, LAG-3, and TIM-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farangis Rastin
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hossein Javid
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Varastegan Institute for Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Surgical Oncology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
| | - Mahsa Akbari Oryani
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | | | - Amir-R Afshari
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
| | - Mehdi Karimi-Shahri
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran.
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Xu J, Shi Q, Wang B, Ji T, Guo W, Ren T, Tang X. The role of tumor immune microenvironment in chordoma: promising immunotherapy strategies. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1257254. [PMID: 37720221 PMCID: PMC10502727 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1257254] [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: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Chordoma is a rare malignant bone tumor with limited therapeutic options, which is resistant to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and targeted therapy is also shown with little efficacy. The long-standing delay in researching its mechanisms of occurrence and development has resulted in the dilemma of no effective treatment targets and no available drugs in clinical practice. In recent years, the role of the tumor immune microenvironment in driving tumor growth has become a hot and challenging topic in the field of cancer research. Immunotherapy has shown promising results in the treatment of various tumors. However, the study of the immune microenvironment of chordoma is still in its infancy. In this review, we aim to present a comprehensive reveal of previous exploration on the chordoma immune microenvironment and propose promising immunotherapy strategies for chordoma based on these characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiuhui Xu
- Department of Musculoskeletal Tumor, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Tumor, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Qianyu Shi
- Department of Musculoskeletal Tumor, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Tumor, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Boyang Wang
- Department of Musculoskeletal Tumor, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Tumor, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Ji
- Department of Musculoskeletal Tumor, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Tumor, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Guo
- Department of Musculoskeletal Tumor, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Tumor, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Tingting Ren
- Department of Musculoskeletal Tumor, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Tumor, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaodong Tang
- Department of Musculoskeletal Tumor, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Tumor, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
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Silva AJD, de Sousa MMG, de Macêdo LS, de França Neto PL, de Moura IA, Espinoza BCF, Invenção MDCV, de Pinho SS, da Gama MATM, de Freitas AC. RNA Vaccines: Yeast as a Novel Antigen Vehicle. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1334. [PMID: 37631902 PMCID: PMC10459952 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11081334] [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: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last decades, technological advances for RNA manipulation enabled and expanded its application in vaccine development. This approach comprises synthetic single-stranded mRNA molecules that direct the translation of the antigen responsible for activating the desired immune response. The success of RNA vaccines depends on the delivery vehicle. Among the systems, yeasts emerge as a new approach, already employed to deliver protein antigens, with efficacy demonstrated through preclinical and clinical trials. β-glucans and mannans in their walls are responsible for the adjuvant property of this system. Yeast β-glucan capsules, microparticles, and nanoparticles can modulate immune responses and have a high capacity to carry nucleic acids, with bioavailability upon oral immunization and targeting to receptors present in antigen-presenting cells (APCs). In addition, yeasts are suitable vehicles for the protection and specific delivery of therapeutic vaccines based on RNAi. Compared to protein antigens, the use of yeast for DNA or RNA vaccine delivery is less established and has fewer studies, most of them in the preclinical phase. Here, we present an overview of the attributes of yeast or its derivatives for the delivery of RNA-based vaccines, discussing the current challenges and prospects of this promising strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Antonio Carlos de Freitas
- Laboratory of Molecular Studies and Experimental Therapy—LEMTE, Department of Genetics, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife 50670-901, Brazil; (A.J.D.S.)
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John L, Smith H, Ilanchezhian M, Lockridge R, Reilly KM, Raygada M, Dombi E, Sandler A, Thomas BJ, Glod J, Miettinen M, Allen T, Sommer J, Levy J, Lozinsky S, Dix D, Bouffet E, MacDonald S, Mukherjee D, Snyderman CH, Rowan NR, Malyapa R, Park DM, Heery C, Gardner PA, Cote GM, Fuller S, Butman JA, Jackson S, Gulley JL, Widemann BC, Wedekind MF. The NIH pediatric/young adult chordoma clinic and natural history study: Making advances in a very rare tumor. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2023; 70:e30358. [PMID: 37347686 PMCID: PMC10739575 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.30358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chordomas are rare tumors arising from the skull base and spine, with approximately 20 pediatric chordoma cases in the Unitedn States per year. The natural history and optimal treatment of pediatric chordomas, especially poorly differentiated and dedifferentiated subtypes, is incompletely understood. Herein, we present findings from our first National Cancer Institute (NCI) chordoma clinic and a retrospective analysis of published cases of pediatric poorly differentiated chordomas (PDC) and dedifferentiated chordomas (DC). METHODS Patients less than 40 years old with chordoma were enrolled on the NCI Natural History and Biospecimens Acquisitions Study for Children and Adults with Rare Solid Tumors protocol (NCT03739827). Chordoma experts reviewed patient records, evaluated patients, and provided treatment recommendations. Patient-reported outcomes, biospecimens, and volumetric tumor analyses were collected. A literature review for pediatric PDC and DC was conducted. RESULTS Twelve patients (median age: 14 years) attended the clinic, including four patients with active disease and three patients with PDC responsive to systemic therapy. Consensus treatment, management, and recommendations were provided to patients. Literature review returned 45 pediatric cases of PDC or DC with variable treatments and outcomes. CONCLUSIONS A multidisciplinary expert clinic was feasible and successful in improving understanding of pediatric chordoma. While multimodal approaches have all been employed, treatment for PDC has been inconsistent and a recommended standardized treatment approach has not been defined. Centralized efforts, inclusive of specialized chordoma-focused clinics, natural history studies, and prospective analyses will help in the standardization of care for this challenging disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liny John
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Hannah Smith
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Maran Ilanchezhian
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Robin Lockridge
- Clinical Research Directorate (CRD), Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Karlyne M Reilly
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Margarita Raygada
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Eva Dombi
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Abby Sandler
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Barbara J Thomas
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - John Glod
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Markku Miettinen
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Taryn Allen
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Joan Levy
- Chordoma Foundation, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - David Dix
- BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Robert Malyapa
- University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Christopher Heery
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Paul A. Gardner
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Sarah Fuller
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - John A. Butman
- Radiology and Imaging Sciences, The National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sadhana Jackson
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - James L. Gulley
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Brigitte C Widemann
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mary Frances Wedekind
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Kesari S, Wang F, Juarez T, Ashili S, Patro CPK, Carrillo J, Nguyen M, Truong J, Levy J, Sommer J, Freed DM, Xiu J, Takasumi Y, Bouffet E, Gill JM. Activity of pemetrexed in pre-clinical chordoma models and humans. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7317. [PMID: 37147496 PMCID: PMC10163028 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34404-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Chordomas are rare slow growing tumors, arising from embryonic remnants of notochord with a close predilection for the axial skeleton. Recurrence is common and no effective standard medical therapy exists. Thymidylate synthase (TS), an intracellular enzyme, is a key rate-limiting enzyme of DNA biosynthesis and repair which is primarily active in proliferating and metabolically active cells. Eighty-four percent of chordoma samples had loss of TS expression which may predict response to anti-folates. Pemetrexed suppresses tumor growth by inhibiting enzymes involved in folate metabolism, resulting in decreased availability of thymidine which is necessary for DNA synthesis. Pemetrexed inhibited growth in a preclinical mouse xenograft model of human chordoma. We report three cases of metastatic chordoma that had been heavily treated previously with a variety of standard therapies with poor response. In two cases, pemetrexed was added and objective responses were observed on imaging with one patient on continuous treatment for > 2 years with continued shrinkage. One case demonstrated tumor growth after treatment with pemetrexed. The two cases which had a favorable response had a loss of TS expression, whereas the one case with progressive disease had TS present. These results demonstrate the activity of pemetrexed in recurrent chordoma and warrant a prospective clinical trial which is ongoing (NCT03955042).
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Kesari
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Santa Monica, CA, USA.
- Saint John's Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA.
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Sichuan, Chengdu, China.
| | - Tiffany Juarez
- Saint John's Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | | | - C Pawan K Patro
- CureScience, San Diego, CA, USA
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jose Carrillo
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Santa Monica, CA, USA
- Saint John's Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Minhdan Nguyen
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Santa Monica, CA, USA
- Saint John's Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Judy Truong
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Santa Monica, CA, USA
- Saint John's Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Joan Levy
- Chordoma Foundation, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | - Yuki Takasumi
- Saint John's Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Eric Bouffet
- The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jaya M Gill
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Santa Monica, CA, USA
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Yang F, Cheung PCK. Fungal β-Glucan-Based Nanotherapeutics: From Fabrication to Application. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9040475. [PMID: 37108930 PMCID: PMC10143420 DOI: 10.3390/jof9040475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal β-glucans are naturally occurring active macromolecules used in food and medicine due to their wide range of biological activities and positive health benefits. Significant research efforts have been devoted over the past decade to producing fungal β-glucan-based nanomaterials and promoting their uses in numerous fields, including biomedicine. Herein, this review offers an up-to-date report on the synthetic strategies of common fungal β-glucan-based nanomaterials and preparation methods such as nanoprecipitation and emulsification. In addition, we highlight current examples of fungal β-glucan-based theranostic nanosystems and their prospective use for drug delivery and treatment in anti-cancer, vaccination, as well as anti-inflammatory treatments. It is anticipated that future advances in polysaccharide chemistry and nanotechnology will aid in the clinical translation of fungal β-glucan-based nanomaterials for the delivery of drugs and the treatment of illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Yang
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Peter Chi Keung Cheung
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong 999077, China
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Wang X, Chen Z, Li B, Fan J, Xu W, Xiao J. Immunotherapy as a Promising Option for the Treatment of Advanced Chordoma: A Systemic Review. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 15:cancers15010264. [PMID: 36612259 PMCID: PMC9818311 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010264] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To summarize the function and efficacy of immunotherapy as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of advanced chordoma. METHODS Literature search was conducted by two reviewers independently. Case reports, case series and clinical trials of immunotherapy for chordoma were retrieved systematically from Pubmed, Web of Science, Scoupus and Cochrane Library. Clinical outcome data extracted from the literature included median progression-free survival (PFS), median overall survival (OS), clinical responses and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS All studies were published between 2015 and 2022. Twenty-two eligible studies were selected for systemic review. PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) were the most common used immunotherapy agents in chordoma, among which Pembrolizumab was the most frequently prescribed. CTLA-4 antibody was only used as combination therapy in chordoma. Dose Limiting Toxicity (DLT) was not observed in any vaccine targeting brachyury, and injection site response was the most frequent AV. The response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) were the most generally used evaluation standard in chordoma immunotherapy, and none of the included studies employed the Choi criteria. CONCLUSIONS No clinical data have demonstrated that CTLA-4 ICIs combined with PD-1/PD-L1 ICIs is more effective than ICIs monotherapy in treating chordoma, and ICIs in combination with other therapies exhibit more toxicity than monotherapy. PD-1/PD-L1 ICIs monotherapy is recommended as an immunotherapy in patients with advanced chordoma, which may even benefit PD-L1-negative patients. The brachyury vaccine has shown good safety in chordoma patients, and future clinical trials should focus on how to improve its therapeutic efficacy. The use of immunomodulatory agents is a promising therapeutic option, though additional clinical trials are required to evaluate their safety and effectiveness. RECIST does not seem to be an appropriate standard for assessing medications of intratumoral immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Wei Xu
- Correspondence: (W.X.); (J.X.); Tel./Fax: +86-021-13761278657 (W.X.); +86-021-13701785283 (J.X.); +(086)-021-81885634 (W.X. & J.X.)
| | - Jianru Xiao
- Correspondence: (W.X.); (J.X.); Tel./Fax: +86-021-13761278657 (W.X.); +86-021-13701785283 (J.X.); +(086)-021-81885634 (W.X. & J.X.)
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Silva AJD, Rocha CKDS, de Freitas AC. Standardization and Key Aspects of the Development of Whole Yeast Cell Vaccines. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14122792. [PMID: 36559285 PMCID: PMC9781213 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14122792] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In the context of vaccine development, improving antigenic presentation is critical for the activation of specific immune responses and the success of immunization, in addition to selecting an appropriate target. In this sense, different strategies have been developed and improved. Among them is the use of yeast cells as vehicles for the delivery of recombinant antigens. These vaccines, named whole yeast vaccines (WYVs), can induce humoral and cellular immune responses, with the additional advantage of dispensing with the use of adjuvants due to the immunostimulatory properties of their cell wall components. However, there are some gaps in the methodologies for obtaining and validating recombinant strains and vaccine formulations. The standardization of these parameters is an important factor for WYVs approval by regulatory agencies and, consequently, their licensing. This review aimed to provide an overview of the main parameters to consider when developing a yeast-based vaccine, addressing some available tools, and highlighting the main variables that can influence the vaccine production process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Jéssica Duarte Silva
- Laboratory of Molecular Studies and Experimental Therapy—LEMTE, Department of Genetics, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife 50670-901, Brazil
| | | | - Antonio Carlos de Freitas
- Laboratory of Molecular Studies and Experimental Therapy—LEMTE, Department of Genetics, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife 50670-901, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-81996067671
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11
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Wu Z, Yang M, Cao Y. Tumor antigens and vaccines in colorectal cancer. Medicine in Drug Discovery 2022; 16:100144. [DOI: 10.1016/j.medidd.2022.100144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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12
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Prawiningrum AF, Paramita RI, Panigoro SS. Immunoinformatics Approach for Epitope-Based Vaccine Design: Key Steps for Breast Cancer Vaccine. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12. [PMID: 36552988 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12122981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccines are an upcoming medical intervention for breast cancer. By targeting the tumor antigen, cancer vaccines can be designed to train the immune system to recognize tumor cells. Therefore, along with technological advances, the vaccine design process is now starting to be carried out with more rational methods such as designing epitope-based peptide vaccines using immunoinformatics methods. Immunoinformatics methods can assist vaccine design in terms of antigenicity and safety. Common protocols used to design epitope-based peptide vaccines include tumor antigen identification, protein structure analysis, T cell epitope prediction, epitope characterization, and evaluation of protein-epitope interactions. Tumor antigen can be divided into two types: tumor associated antigen and tumor specific antigen. We will discuss the identification of tumor antigens using high-throughput technologies. Protein structure analysis comprises the physiochemical, hydrochemical, and antigenicity of the protein. T cell epitope prediction models are widely available with various prediction parameters as well as filtering tools for the prediction results. Epitope characterization such as allergenicity and toxicity can be done in silico as well using allergenicity and toxicity predictors. Evaluation of protein-epitope interactions can also be carried out in silico with molecular simulation. We will also discuss current and future developments of breast cancer vaccines using an immunoinformatics approach. Finally, although prediction models have high accuracy, the opposite can happen after being tested in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, further studies are needed to ensure the effectiveness of the vaccine to be developed. Although epitope-based peptide vaccines have the disadvantage of low immunogenicity, the addition of adjuvants can be a solution.
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Abdou Y, Goudarzi A, Yu JX, Upadhaya S, Vincent B, Carey LA. Immunotherapy in triple negative breast cancer: beyond checkpoint inhibitors. NPJ Breast Cancer 2022; 8:121. [PMID: 36351947 PMCID: PMC9646259 DOI: 10.1038/s41523-022-00486-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of immunotherapy agents has revolutionized the field of oncology. The only FDA-approved immunotherapeutic approach in breast cancer consists of immune checkpoint inhibitors, yet several novel immune-modulatory strategies are being actively studied and appear promising. Innovative immunotherapeutic strategies are urgently needed in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), a subtype of breast cancer known for its poor prognosis and its resistance to conventional treatments. TNBC is more primed to respond to immunotherapy given the presence of more tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, higher PD-L1 expression, and higher tumor mutation burden relative to the other breast cancer subtypes, and therefore, immuno-oncology represents a key area of promise for TNBC research. The aim of this review is to highlight current data and ongoing efforts to establish the safety and efficacy of immunotherapeutic approaches beyond checkpoint inhibitors in TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yara Abdou
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Atta Goudarzi
- Department of Medicine, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Jia Xin Yu
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, 94129, USA
| | | | - Benjamin Vincent
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Lisa A Carey
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
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How CW, Ong YS, Low SS, Pandey A, Show PL, Foo JB. How far have we explored fungi to fight cancer? Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:976-989. [PMID: 33737109 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [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: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The use of fungal cultures have been well documented in human history. Although its used in healthcare, like penicillin and statins, have saved countless of lives, but there is still no fungal products that are specifically indicated for cancers. Research into fungal-derived materials to curb cancers in the recent decades have made a considerable progress in terms of drug delivery vehicles, anticancer active ingredients and cancer immunotherapy. Various parts of the organisms have successfully been exploited to achieve specific tasks. Apart from the identification of novel anticancer compound from fungi, its native capsular structure can also be used as drug cargo to achieve higher oral bioavailability. This review summarises the anticancer potential of fungal-derived materials, highlighting the role of capsular polysaccharides, proteins, and other structures in variety of innovative utilities to fit the current pharmaceutical technology. Many bioactive compounds isolated from fungi have also been formulated into nanoparticles to achieve greater anticancer activity. The progress of fungal compounds and their analogues in clinical trials is also highlighted. In addition, the potential of various fungal species to be developed for anticancer immunotherapy are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chee Wun How
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Yong Sze Ong
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Sze Shin Low
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Ashok Pandey
- Centre for Innovation and Translational Research, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, 226 001, India
| | - Pau Loke Show
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
| | - Jhi Biau Foo
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, 1, Jalan Taylors, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia; Centre for Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology (CDDMP), Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, 1, Jalan Taylors, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
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15
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Gao J, Huang R, Yin H, Song D, Meng T. Research hotspots and trends of chordoma: A bibliometric analysis. Front Oncol 2022; 12:946597. [PMID: 36185236 PMCID: PMC9523362 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.946597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chordoma is a type of mesenchymal malignancy with a high recurrence rate and poor prognosis. Due to its rarity, the tumorigenic mechanism and optimal therapeutic strategy are not well known. Methods All relevant articles of chordoma research from 1 January 2000 to 26 April 2022 were obtained from Web of Science Core Collection database. Blibliometrix was used to acquire basic publication data. Visualization and data table of collaboration network, dynamic analysis, trend topics, thematic map, and factorial analysis were acquired using Blibliometrix package. VOSviewer was used to generate a visualization map of co-citation analysis and co-occurrence. Results A total of 2,285 articles related to chordoma were identified. The most influential and productive country/region was the United States, and Capital Medical University has published the most articles. Among all high-impact authors, Adrienne M. Flanagan had the highest average citation rate. Neurosurgery was the important periodical for chordoma research with the highest total/average citation rate. We focused on four hotspots in recent chordoma research. The research on surgical treatment and radiotherapy was relatively mature. The molecular signaling pathway, targeted therapy and immunotherapy for chordoma are not yet mature, which will be the future trends of chordoma research. Conclusion This study indicates that chordoma studies are increasing. Surgery and radiotherapy are well reported and always play fundamental roles in chordoma treatment. The molecular signaling pathway, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy of chordoma are the latest research hotspots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianxuan Gao
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Runzhi Huang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huabin Yin
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dianwen Song
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Tong Meng, ; Dianwen Song,
| | - Tong Meng
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Tong Meng, ; Dianwen Song,
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Jia W, Zhang T, Huang H, Feng H, Wang S, Guo Z, Luo Z, Ji X, Cheng X, Zhao R. Colorectal cancer vaccines: The current scenario and future prospects. Front Immunol 2022; 13:942235. [PMID: 35990683 PMCID: PMC9384853 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.942235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Current therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy encounter obstacles in preventing metastasis of CRC even when applied in combination. Immune checkpoint inhibitors depict limited effects due to the limited cases of CRC patients with high microsatellite instability (MSI-H). Cancer vaccines are designed to trigger the elevation of tumor-infiltrated lymphocytes, resulting in the intense response of the immune system to tumor antigens. This review briefly summarizes different categories of CRC vaccines, demonstrates the current outcomes of relevant clinical trials, and provides particular focus on recent advances on nanovaccines and neoantigen vaccines, representing the trend and emphasis of CRC vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqing Jia
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Digestive surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Digestive surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Haiyan Huang
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Digestive surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Haoran Feng
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Digestive surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shaodong Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Digestive surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zichao Guo
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Digestive surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiping Luo
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Digestive surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaopin Ji
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Digestive surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaopin Ji, ; Xi Cheng, ; Ren Zhao,
| | - Xi Cheng
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Digestive surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaopin Ji, ; Xi Cheng, ; Ren Zhao,
| | - Ren Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Digestive surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaopin Ji, ; Xi Cheng, ; Ren Zhao,
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Bozsodi A, Scholtz B, Papp G, Sapi Z, Biczo A, Varga PP, Lazary A. Potential molecular mechanism in self-renewal is associated with miRNA dysregulation in sacral chordoma - A next-generation RNA sequencing study. Heliyon 2022; 8:e10227. [PMID: 36033338 PMCID: PMC9404356 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10227] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chordoma, the most frequent malignant primary spinal neoplasm, characterized by a high rate of recurrence, is an orphan disease where the clarification of the molecular oncogenesis would be crucial to developing new, effective therapies. Dysregulated expression of non-coding RNAs, especially microRNAs (miRNA) has a significant role in cancer development. Methods Next-generation RNA sequencing (NGS) was used for the combinatorial analysis of mRNA-miRNA gene expression profiles in sacral chordoma and nucleus pulposus samples. Advanced bioinformatics workflow was applied to the data to predict miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks with altered activity in chordoma. Results A large set of significantly dysregulated miRNAs in chordoma and their differentially expressed target genes have been identified. Several molecular pathways related to tumorigenesis and the modulation of the immune system are predicted to be dysregulated due to aberrant miRNA expression in chordoma. We identified a gene set including key regulators of the Hippo pathway, which is targeted by differently expressed miRNAs, and validated their altered expression by RT-qPCR. These newly identified miRNA/RNA interactions are predicted to have a role in the self-renewal process of chordoma stem cells, which might sustain the high rate of recurrence for this tumor. Conclusions Our results can significantly contribute to the designation of possible targets for the development of anti-chordoma therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpad Bozsodi
- National Center for Spinal Disorders, Buda Health Center, Királyhágó u. 1-3, Budapest, H-1126, Hungary
- School of PhD Studies, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, Budapest, H-1085, Hungary
| | - Beata Scholtz
- Genomic Medicine and Bioinformatic Core Facility, Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98, Debrecen, H-4032, Hungary
| | - Gergo Papp
- 1st Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, Budapest, H-1085, Hungary
| | - Zoltan Sapi
- 1st Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, Budapest, H-1085, Hungary
| | - Adam Biczo
- National Center for Spinal Disorders, Buda Health Center, Királyhágó u. 1-3, Budapest, H-1126, Hungary
| | - Peter Pal Varga
- National Center for Spinal Disorders, Buda Health Center, Királyhágó u. 1-3, Budapest, H-1126, Hungary
| | - Aron Lazary
- National Center for Spinal Disorders, Buda Health Center, Királyhágó u. 1-3, Budapest, H-1126, Hungary
- Department of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics, Semmelweis University, Királyhágó u. 1-3, Budapest, H-1126, Hungary
- Corresponding author.
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Jabbar R, Jankowski J, Pawełczyk A, Szmyd B, Solek J, Pierzak O, Wojdyn M, Radek M. Cervical Paraspinal Chordoma: A Literature Review with a Novel Case Report. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11144117. [PMID: 35887879 PMCID: PMC9325254 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11144117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Chordomas are rare malignant neoplasms, accounting for 1–4% of all primary bone tumors. Most spinal chordomas occur in the sacrococcygeal region and the base of the skull; however, 6% of chordomas are observed in the cervical spine. In these cases, the lesion is mainly located in the midline. These tumors slowly grow before becoming symptomatic and encase the surrounding vascular and nerve structures. Patients with advanced chordoma have a poor prognosis due to local recurrence with infiltration and destruction of adjacent bone and tissues. Systemic chemotherapy options have not been fully effective in these tumors, especially for recurrent chordomas. Thus, new combinations of currently available targeted molecular and biological therapies with radiotherapy have been proposed as potential treatment modalities. Here, the present paper describes the case of a 41-year-old male with a C2–C4 chordoma located paravertebrally, who underwent surgical resection with a debulking procedure for a cervical chordoma. Computed tomography angiography revealed a paraspinal mass with bone remodeling and the MRI showed a paravertebral mass penetrating to the spinal canal with a widening of the intervertebral C2–C3 foramen. Initially, the tumor was diagnosed as schwannoma based on its localization and imaging features; however, the histopathology specimen confirmed the diagnosis of chordoma. This case study highlights the effectivity of radical surgical resection as a mainstay treatment for chordomas, discusses neuroimaging, diagnosis, and the use of currently available targeted therapies and forthcoming treatment strategies, as alternative treatment options for chordoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Redwan Jabbar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Peripheral Nerve Surgery, Medical University of Lodz, 90-549 Lodz, Poland; (R.J.); (J.J.); (A.P.); (B.S.); (O.P.); (M.W.)
| | - Jakub Jankowski
- Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Peripheral Nerve Surgery, Medical University of Lodz, 90-549 Lodz, Poland; (R.J.); (J.J.); (A.P.); (B.S.); (O.P.); (M.W.)
| | - Agnieszka Pawełczyk
- Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Peripheral Nerve Surgery, Medical University of Lodz, 90-549 Lodz, Poland; (R.J.); (J.J.); (A.P.); (B.S.); (O.P.); (M.W.)
| | - Bartosz Szmyd
- Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Peripheral Nerve Surgery, Medical University of Lodz, 90-549 Lodz, Poland; (R.J.); (J.J.); (A.P.); (B.S.); (O.P.); (M.W.)
| | - Julia Solek
- Department of Pathology, Chair of Oncology, Medical University of Lodz, 92-213 Lodz, Poland;
| | - Olaf Pierzak
- Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Peripheral Nerve Surgery, Medical University of Lodz, 90-549 Lodz, Poland; (R.J.); (J.J.); (A.P.); (B.S.); (O.P.); (M.W.)
| | - Maciej Wojdyn
- Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Peripheral Nerve Surgery, Medical University of Lodz, 90-549 Lodz, Poland; (R.J.); (J.J.); (A.P.); (B.S.); (O.P.); (M.W.)
| | - Maciej Radek
- Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Peripheral Nerve Surgery, Medical University of Lodz, 90-549 Lodz, Poland; (R.J.); (J.J.); (A.P.); (B.S.); (O.P.); (M.W.)
- Correspondence:
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Tan Y, Chen L, Li K, Lou B, Liu Y, Liu Z. Yeast as carrier for drug delivery and vaccine construction. J Control Release 2022; 346:358-379. [PMID: 35483637 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [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: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Yeast has been employed as an effective derived drug carrier as a unicellular microorganism. Many research works have been devoted to the encapsulation of nucleic acid compounds, insoluble small molecule drugs, small molecules, liposomes, polymers, and various nanoparticles in yeast for the treatment of disease. Recombinant yeast-based vaccine carriers (WYV) have played a major role in the development of vaccines. Herein, the latest reports on the application of yeast carriers and the development of related research are summarized, a conceptual description of gastrointestinal absorption of yeast carriers, as well as the various package forms of different drug molecules and nanoparticles in yeast carriers are introduced. In addition, the advantages and development of recombinant yeast vaccine carriers for the disease, veterinary and aquaculture applications are discussed. Moreover, the current challenges and future directions of yeast carriers are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifu Tan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, Hunan Province, PR China
| | - Liwei Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, Hunan Province, PR China
| | - Ke Li
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, PR China
| | - Beibei Lou
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, PR China
| | - Yanfei Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, Hunan Province, PR China.
| | - Zhenbao Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, PR China; Molecular Imaging Research Center of Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, PR China.
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Vuong HG, Dunn IF. Chondrosarcoma and Chordoma of the Skull Base and Spine: Implication of Tumor Location on Patient Survival. World Neurosurg 2022; 162:e635-e639. [PMID: 35339711 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2022.03.088] [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: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chondrosarcoma and chordoma are often grouped together because of their similar anatomic locations, clinical presentations, histopathological and radiological findings, and growth patterns. In the present study, we investigated the clinical and prognostic differences of chondrosarcomas and chordomas of the skull base and spine. METHODS We accessed the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database to search for patients from 2000 to 2018 with chondrosarcomas and chordomas of the skull base and spine for inclusion in the present study. RESULTS We included 1346 and 1536 cases of chondrosarcoma and chordoma for analysis, respectively. Chondrosarcomas of the cranial base and spine were seen in younger patients and were associated with a larger tumor size compared with chordomas. Among the tumors of the skull base, chondrosarcomas were more common in women, with a male predominance found for chordomas. We also observed a male predilection for both spinal chondrosarcomas and chordomas. Distinct metastatic patterns were found for chondrosarcomas versus chordomas, and spinal chondrosarcomas showed a greater risk of distant metastases at presentation compared with spinal chordomas. Cranial base chondrosarcomas were associated with superior outcomes compared with chordomas. However, we demonstrated an opposite survival pattern for spinal chondrosarcomas and chordomas. CONCLUSIONS Chondrosarcomas and chordomas have divergent clinical manifestations and prognoses depending on the anatomic location.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huy Gia Vuong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Ian F Dunn
- Department of Neurosurgery, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
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21
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Hu X, Zhou W, Pi R, Zhao X, Wang W. Genetically modified cancer vaccines: Current status and future prospects. Med Res Rev 2022; 42:1492-1517. [PMID: 35235212 DOI: 10.1002/med.21882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Vaccines can stimulate the immune system to protect individuals from infectious diseases. Moreover, vaccines have also been applied to the prevention and treatment of cancers. Due to advances in genetic engineering technology, cancer vaccines could be genetically modified to increase antitumor efficacy. Various genes could be inserted into cells to boost the immune response, such as cytokines, T cell costimulatory molecules, tumor-associated antigens, and tumor-specific antigens. Genetically modified cancer vaccines utilize innate and adaptive immune responses to induce durable antineoplastic capacity and prevent the recurrence. This review will discuss the major approaches used to develop genetically modified cancer vaccines and explore recent advances to increase the understanding of engineered cancer vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyi Hu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Development and Related Disease of Women and Children Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Weilin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Ruyu Pi
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Development and Related Disease of Women and Children Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Xia Zhao
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Development and Related Disease of Women and Children Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China
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22
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Niu G, Hao J, Sheng S, Wen F. Role of T-box genes in cancer, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and cancer stem cells. J Cell Biochem 2021; 123:215-230. [PMID: 34897787 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Sharing a common DNA binding motif called T-box, transcription factor T-box gene family controls embryonic development and is also involved in cancer progression and metastasis. Cancer metastasis shows therapy resistance and involves complex processes. Among them, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) triggers cancer cell invasiveness and the acquisition of stemness of cancer cells, called cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs are a small fraction of tumor bulk and are capable of self-renewal and tumorsphere formation. Recent progress has highlighted the critical roles of T-box genes in cancer progression, EMT, and CSC function, and such regulatory functions of T-box genes have emerged as potential therapeutic candidates for cancer. Herein we summarize the current understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of T-box genes in cancer, EMT, and CSCs, and discuss the implications of targeting T-box genes as anticancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gengle Niu
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jin Hao
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Surui Sheng
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head Neck Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fangyuan Wen
- Department of Outpatient, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu, China
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23
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Hoke AT, Padget MR, Fabian KP, Nandal A, Gallia GL, Bilusic M, Soon-Shiong P, Hodge JW, London NR. Combinatorial Natural Killer Cell-based Immunotherapy Approaches Selectively Target Chordoma Cancer Stem Cells. Cancer Res Commun 2021; 1:127-139. [PMID: 35765577 PMCID: PMC9236084 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-21-0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Chordoma is a rare tumor derived from notochord remnants that has a propensity to recur and metastasize despite conventional multimodal treatment. Cancer stem cells (CSC) are implicated in chordoma's resistant and recurrent behavior; thus strategies that target CSCs are of particular interest. Using in vitro cytotoxicity models, we demonstrated that anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (N-601) and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (cetuximab) antibodies enhanced lysis of chordoma cells by healthy donor and chordoma patient NK cells through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Treatment of NK cells with an IL-15 superagonist complex (N-803) increased their cytotoxicity against chordoma cells, which was further enhanced by treatment with N-601 and/or cetuximab. PD-L1-targeted chimeric antigen receptor NK cells (PD-L1 t-haNKs) were also effective against chordoma cells. CSCs were preferentially vulnerable to NK cell killing in the presence of N-601 and N-803. Flow cytometric analysis of a chordoma CSC population showed that CSCs expressed significantly more NK activating ligand B7-H6 and PD-L1 than non-CSCs, thus explaining a potential mechanism of selective targeting. These data suggest that chordoma may be effectively targeted by combinatorial NK cell-mediated immunotherapeutic approaches and that the efficacy of these approaches in chordoma and other CSC-driven tumor types should be investigated further in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin T.K. Hoke
- Sinonasal and Skull Base Tumor Program, National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Michelle R. Padget
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Kellsye P. Fabian
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Anjali Nandal
- Sinonasal and Skull Base Tumor Program, National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Gary L. Gallia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Marijo Bilusic
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - James W. Hodge
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Nyall R. London
- Sinonasal and Skull Base Tumor Program, National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Corresponding Author: Nyall R. London Jr., Sinonasal and Skull Base Tumor Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders (NIDCD), NIH, 10 Center Drive Room #7N256, Bethesda, MD USA 20892-2320. Phone: 301-402-4216; E-mail:
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24
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Jalessi M, Gholami MS, Razmara E, Hassanzadeh S, Sadeghipour A, Jahanbakhshi A, Tabibkhooei A, Bahrami E, Falah M. Association between TBXT rs2305089 polymorphism and chordoma in Iranian patients identified by a developed T-ARMS-PCR assay. J Clin Lab Anal 2021; 36:e24150. [PMID: 34837714 PMCID: PMC8761424 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.24150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chordoma is a locally aggressive bone tumor with a high capability of recurrence. Because chordoma often occurs at critical locations next to neurovascular structures, there is an urgent need to introduce validated biomarkers. T‐box transcription factor T (TBXT; OMIM: 601397) plays an important role in the pathogenesis and survival of chordoma cells. Methods Herein, we aimed to show whether rs2305089 polymorphism is correlated with chordoma in the Iranian population. In order to detect rs2305089, tetra‐primer amplification refractory mutation system‐polymerase chain reaction (T‐ARMS‐PCR) was used. In total, 19 chordoma patients and 108 normal healthy individuals were recruited and screened using T‐ARMS‐PCR. The results were subsequently validated by Sanger sequencing. Results The genotype distributions and allele frequencies were significantly different among the patient and healthy groups (p‐value <0.05). The A allele of rs2305089 showed a significant positive association with chordoma risk (p‐value <0.05). DNA sequencing verified the T‐ARMS‐PCR results as well. This study demonstrated the association between TBXT rs2305089 and chordoma in an Iranian population using a simple, accurate, and cost‐effective T‐ARMS‐PCR assay. Conclusions Our results were in line with those of previous studies showing that TBXT rs2305089 is associated with chordoma development. We also developed an efficient T‐ARMS‐PCR assay to determine the genotype of rs2305089.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Jalessi
- Skull Base Research Center, The Five Senses Health Institute, Hazrat Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,ENT and Head and Neck Research Center and Department, The Five Senses Health Institute, Hazrat Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Saeed Gholami
- Skull Base Research Center, The Five Senses Health Institute, Hazrat Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ehsan Razmara
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sajad Hassanzadeh
- Skull Base Research Center, The Five Senses Health Institute, Hazrat Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Sadeghipour
- Pathology Department, Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amin Jahanbakhshi
- Skull Base Research Center, The Five Senses Health Institute, Hazrat Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Tabibkhooei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Eshagh Bahrami
- Skull Base Research Center, The Five Senses Health Institute, Hazrat Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Neurosurgery, Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Falah
- Skull Base Research Center, The Five Senses Health Institute, Hazrat Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,ENT and Head and Neck Research Center and Department, The Five Senses Health Institute, Hazrat Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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25
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Singh P, Eley J, Saeed A, Bhandary B, Mahmood N, Chen M, Dukic T, Mossahebi S, Rodrigues DB, Mahmood J, Vujaskovic Z, Shukla HD. Effect of hyperthermia and proton beam radiation as a novel approach in chordoma cells death and its clinical implication to treat chordoma. Int J Radiat Biol 2021; 97:1675-1686. [PMID: 34495790 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2021.1976861] [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] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Chordoma is a locally aggressive tumor that most commonly affects the base of the skull/clivus, cervical, and sacral spine. Conventional radiotherapy (RT), cannot be safely increased further to improve disease control due to the risk of toxicity to the surrounding critical structures. Tumor-targeted hyperthermia (HT) combined with Proton Beam Radiation Therapy (PBRT) is known to act as a potent radiosensitizer in cancer control. In this study, we investigated whether PBRT efficacy for chordoma can be enhanced in combination with HT as a radiosensitizer. MATERIAL AND METHODS Human chordoma cell lines, U-CH2 and Mug-chor1 were treated in vitro with HT followed by PBRT with variable doses. The colony-forming assay was performed, and dose-response was characterized by linear-quadratic model fits. HSP-70 and Brachyury (TBXT) biomarkers for chordoma aggression levels were quantified by western blot analysis. Gene microarray analysis was performed by U133 Arrays. Pathway Analysis was also performed using IPA bioinformatic software. RESULTS Our findings in both U-CH2 and Mug-Chor1 cell lines demonstrate that hyperthermia followed by PBRT has an enhanced cell killing effect when compared with PBRT-alone (p < .01). Western blot analysis showed HT decreased the expression of Brachyury protein (p < .05), which is considered a biomarker for chordoma tumor aggression. HT with PBRT also exhibited an RT-dose-dependent decrease of Brachyury expression (p < .05). We also observed enhanced HSP-70 expression due to HT, RT, and HT + RT combined in both cell lines. Interestingly, genomic data showed 344 genes expressed by the treatment of HT + RT compared to HT (68 genes) or RT (112 genes) as individual treatment. We also identified activation of death receptor and apoptotic pathway in HT + RT treated cells. CONCLUSION We found that Hyperthermia (HT) combined with Proton Beam Radiation (PBRT) could significantly increase chordoma cell death by activating the death receptor pathway and apoptosis which has the promise to treat metastatic chordoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prerna Singh
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences (DTRS), Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - John Eley
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ali Saeed
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences (DTRS), Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Binny Bhandary
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences (DTRS), Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nayab Mahmood
- College of Information Science, University of Maryland College Park, MD, USA
| | - Minjie Chen
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences (DTRS), Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tijana Dukic
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences (DTRS), Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sina Mossahebi
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences (DTRS), Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dario B Rodrigues
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences (DTRS), Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Javed Mahmood
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences (DTRS), Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Zeljko Vujaskovic
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences (DTRS), Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hem D Shukla
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences (DTRS), Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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26
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Strauss J, Gatti-Mays ME, Cho BC, Hill A, Salas S, McClay E, Redman JM, Sater HA, Donahue RN, Jochems C, Lamping E, Burmeister A, Marté JL, Cordes LM, Bilusic M, Karzai F, Ojalvo LS, Jehl G, Rolfe PA, Hinrichs CS, Madan RA, Schlom J, Gulley JL. Bintrafusp alfa, a bifunctional fusion protein targeting TGF-β and PD-L1, in patients with human papillomavirus-associated malignancies. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 8:jitc-2020-001395. [PMID: 33323462 PMCID: PMC7745517 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [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] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bintrafusp alfa is a first-in-class bifunctional fusion protein composed of the extracellular domain of transforming growth factor (TGF)-βRII (a TGF-β 'trap') fused to a human IgG1 mAb blocking programmed cell death ligand 1. This is the largest analysis of patients with advanced, pretreated human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated malignancies treated with bintrafusp alfa. METHODS In these phase 1 (NCT02517398) and phase 2 trials (NCT03427411), 59 patients with advanced, pretreated, checkpoint inhibitor-naive HPV-associated cancers received bintrafusp alfa intravenously every 2 weeks until progressive disease, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal. Primary endpoint was best overall response per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) V.1.1; other endpoints included safety. RESULTS As of April 17, 2019 (phase 1), and October 4, 2019 (phase 2), the confirmed objective response rate per RECIST V.1.1 in the checkpoint inhibitor-naive, full-analysis population was 30.5% (95% CI, 19.2% to 43.9%; five complete responses); eight patients had stable disease (disease control rate, 44.1% (95% CI, 31.2% to 57.6%)). In addition, three patients experienced a delayed partial response after initial disease progression, for a total clinical response rate of 35.6% (95% CI, 23.6% to 49.1%). An additional patient with vulvar cancer had an unconfirmed response. Forty-nine patients (83.1%) experienced treatment-related adverse events, which were grade 3/4 in 16 patients (27.1%). No treatment-related deaths occurred. CONCLUSION Bintrafusp alfa showed clinical activity and manageable safety and is a promising treatment in HPV-associated cancers. These findings support further investigation of bintrafusp alfa in patients with advanced, pretreated HPV-associated cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius Strauss
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Margaret E Gatti-Mays
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Byoung Chul Cho
- Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Andrew Hill
- Tasman Oncology Research Ltd, Southport, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sébastien Salas
- CEPCM Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille; Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Edward McClay
- California Cancer Associates for Research and Excellence, Encinitas, California, USA
| | - Jason M Redman
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Houssein A Sater
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Renee N Donahue
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Caroline Jochems
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Elizabeth Lamping
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrea Burmeister
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Leidos Biomedical Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Jennifer L Marté
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Lisa M Cordes
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Marijo Bilusic
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Fatima Karzai
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Laureen S Ojalvo
- EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc, Billerica, Massachusetts, USA; an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | | | - P Alexander Rolfe
- EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc, Billerica, Massachusetts, USA; an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Christian S Hinrichs
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ravi A Madan
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - James L Gulley
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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27
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DeMaria PJ, Lee-Wisdom K, Donahue RN, Madan RA, Karzai F, Schwab A, Palena C, Jochems C, Floudas C, Strauss J, Marté JL, Redman JM, Dombi E, Widemann B, Korchin B, Adams T, Pico-Navarro C, Heery C, Schlom J, Gulley JL, Bilusic M. Phase 1 open-label trial of intravenous administration of MVA-BN-brachyury-TRICOM vaccine in patients with advanced cancer. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2021-003238. [PMID: 34479925 PMCID: PMC8420671 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background MVA-BN-brachyury-TRICOM is a recombinant vector-based therapeutic cancer vaccine designed to induce an immune response against brachyury. Brachyury, a transcription factor overexpressed in advanced cancers, has been associated with treatment resistance, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and metastatic potential. MVA-BN-brachyury-TRICOM has demonstrated immunogenicity and safety in previous clinical trials of subcutaneously administered vaccine. Preclinical studies have suggested that intravenous administration of therapeutic vaccines can induce superior CD8+ T cell responses, higher levels of systemic cytokine release, and stronger natural killer cell activation and proliferation. This is the first-in-human study of the intravenous administration of MVA-BN-brachyury-TRICOM. Methods Between January 2020 and March 2021, 13 patients were treated on a phase 1, open-label, 3+3 design, dose-escalation study at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. The study population was adults with advanced solid tumors and was enriched for chordoma, a rare sarcoma of the notochord that overexpresses brachyury. Vaccine was administered intravenously at three DLs on days 1, 22, and 43. Blood samples were taken to assess drug pharmacokinetics and immune activation. Imaging was conducted at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months post-treatment. The primary endpoint was safety and tolerability as determined by the frequency of dose-limiting toxicities; a secondary endpoint was determination of the recommended phase 2 dose. Results No dose-limiting toxicities were observed and no serious adverse events were attributed to the vaccine. Vaccine-related toxicities were consistent with class profile (ie, influenza-like symptoms). Cytokine release syndrome up to grade 2 was observed with no adverse outcomes. Dose-effect trend was observed for fever, chills/rigor, and hypotension. Efficacy analysis of objective response rate per RECIST 1.1 at the end of study showed one patient with a partial response, four with stable disease, and eight with progressive disease. Three patients with stable disease experienced clinical benefit in the form of improvement in pain. Immune correlatives showed T cell activation against brachyury and other tumor-associated cascade antigens. Conclusions Intravenous administration of MVA-BN-brachyury-TRICOM vaccine was safe and tolerable. Maximum tolerated dose was not reached. The maximum administered dose was 109 infectious units every 3 weeks for three doses. This dose was selected as the recommended phase 2 dose. Trial registration number NCT04134312.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J DeMaria
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Katherine Lee-Wisdom
- Medical Oncology Service, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Renee N Donahue
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ravi A Madan
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Fatima Karzai
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Angie Schwab
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Claudia Palena
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Caroline Jochems
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Charalampos Floudas
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Julius Strauss
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jennifer L Marté
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jason Mark Redman
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Eva Dombi
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Brigitte Widemann
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Borys Korchin
- Oncology Strategy, Bavarian Nordic Inc, Morrisville, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Cesar Pico-Navarro
- Oncology Strategy, Bavarian Nordic Inc, Morrisville, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - James L Gulley
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Marijo Bilusic
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Sumransub N, Murugan P, Marette S, Clohisy DR, Skubitz KM. Multiple malignant tumors in a patient with familial chordoma, a case report. BMC Med Genomics 2021; 14:213. [PMID: 34465320 PMCID: PMC8406958 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-021-01064-0] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chordoma is a rare bone tumor that is typically resistant to chemotherapy and is associated with genetic abnormalities of the T-box transcription factor T (TBXT) gene, which encodes the transcription factor brachyury. Brachyury is felt to be a major contributor to the development of chordomas. Case presentation We describe a 67-year-old woman who developed an undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma in her thigh. Despite treatment with standard chemotherapy regimens, she had a rapidly progressive course of disease with pulmonary metastases and passed away 8 months from diagnosis with pulmonary complications. Her medical history was remarkable in that she had a spheno-occipital chordoma at age 39 and later developed multiple other tumors throughout her life including Hodgkin lymphoma and squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma of the skin. She had a family history of chordoma and her family underwent extensive genetic study in the past and were found to have a duplication of the TBXT gene. Conclusions Brachyury has been found to associate with tumor progression, treatment resistance, and metastasis in various epithelial cancers, and it might play roles in tumorigenesis and aggressiveness in this patient with multiple rare tumors and germ line duplication of the TBXT gene. Targeting this molecule may be useful for some malignancies. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12920-021-01064-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuttavut Sumransub
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Paari Murugan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.,The Masonic Cancer Center, 425 E River Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Shelly Marette
- The Masonic Cancer Center, 425 E River Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.,Department of Radiology, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Denis R Clohisy
- The Masonic Cancer Center, 425 E River Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 2450 Riverside Ave Suite R200, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA
| | - Keith M Skubitz
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA. .,The Masonic Cancer Center, 425 E River Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA. .,Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE MMC 480, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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29
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Wedekind MF, Widemann BC, Cote G. Chordoma: Current status, problems, and future directions. Curr Probl Cancer 2021; 45:100771. [PMID: 34266694 DOI: 10.1016/j.currproblcancer.2021.100771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Chordoma is a rare tumor that occurs along the axial spine in pediatrics and adults, with an incidence of approximately 350 cases per year in the United States. While typically described as slow-growing, many patients will eventually develop loco-regional relapse or metastatic disease with few treatment options. Despite numerous efforts over the last 10+ years, effective treatments for patients are lacking. As subtypes of chordoma are identified and described in more detail, further knowledge regarding the natural history of each type, tumor location, age differences, genomic variability, and an overall better understanding of chordoma may be the key to developing meaningful clinical trials and effective therapies for patients with chordoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Frances Wedekind
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.
| | - Brigitte C Widemann
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Gregory Cote
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
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30
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Abdul Sater H, Marté JL, Donahue RN, Walter-Rodriguez B, Heery CR, Steinberg SM, Cordes LM, Chun G, Karzai F, Bilusic M, Harmon SA, Turkbey IB, Choyke PL, Schlom J, Dahut WL, Madan RA, Pinto PA, Gulley JL. Neoadjuvant PROSTVAC prior to radical prostatectomy enhances T-cell infiltration into the tumor immune microenvironment in men with prostate cancer. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 8:jitc-2020-000655. [PMID: 32269146 PMCID: PMC7174144 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-000655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [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] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Clinical trials have shown the ability of therapeutic vaccines to generate immune responses to tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). What is relatively less known is if this translates into immune-cell (IC) infiltration into the tumor microenvironment. This study examined whether neoadjuvant prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-targeted vaccination with PROSTVAC could induce T-cell immunity, particularly at the tumor site. Methods An open-label, phase II study of neoadjuvant PROSTVAC vaccine enrolled 27 patients with localized prostate cancer awaiting radical prostatectomy (RP). We evaluated increases in CD4 and CD8 T-cell infiltrates (RP tissue vs baseline biopsies) using a six-color multiplex immunofluorescence Opal method. Antigen-specific responses were assessed by intracellular cytokine staining after in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with overlapping 15-mer peptide pools encoding the TAAs PSA, brachyury and MUC-1. Results Of 27 vaccinated patients, 26 had matched prevaccination (biopsy) and postvaccination (RP) prostate samples available for non-compartmentalized analysis (NCA) and compartmentalized analysis (CA). Tumor CD4 T-cell infiltrates were significantly increased in postvaccination RP specimens compared with baseline biopsies by NCA (median 176/mm² vs 152/mm²; IQR 136–317/mm² vs 69–284/mm²; p=0.0249; median ratio 1.20; IQR 0.64–2.25). By CA, an increase in both CD4 T-cell infiltrates at the tumor infiltrative margin (median 198/mm² vs 151/mm²; IQR 123–500/mm² vs 85–256/mm²; p=0.042; median ratio 1.44; IQR 0.59–4.17) and in CD8 T-cell infiltrates at the tumor core (median 140/mm² vs 105/mm²; IQR 91–175/mm² vs 83–163/mm²; p=0.036; median ratio 1.25; IQR 0.88–2.09) were noted in postvaccination RP specimens compared with baseline biopsies. A total of 13/25 patients (52%) developed peripheral T-cell responses to any of the three tested TAAs (non-neoantigens); five of these had responses to more than one antigen of the three evaluated. Conclusion Neoadjuvant PROSTVAC can induce both tumor immune response and peripheral immune response. Trial registration number NCT02153918.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houssein Abdul Sater
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jennifer L Marté
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Renee N Donahue
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Beatriz Walter-Rodriguez
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Seth M Steinberg
- Biostatistics and Data Management Section, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Lisa M Cordes
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Guinevere Chun
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Fatima Karzai
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Marijo Bilusic
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Stephanie A Harmon
- Molecular Imaging Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Clinical Research Directorate, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Ismail Baris Turkbey
- Molecular Imaging Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Peter L Choyke
- Molecular Imaging Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - William L Dahut
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ravi A Madan
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Peter A Pinto
- Urologic Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - James L Gulley
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Lachat C, Peixoto P, Hervouet E. Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition History: From Embryonic Development to Cancers. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11060782. [PMID: 34067395 PMCID: PMC8224685 DOI: 10.3390/biom11060782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process that allows epithelial cells to progressively acquire a reversible mesenchymal phenotype. Here, we recount the main events in the history of EMT. EMT was first studied during embryonic development. Nowadays, it is an important field in cancer research, studied all around the world by more and more scientists, because it was shown that EMT is involved in cancer aggressiveness in many different ways. The main features of EMT's involvement in embryonic development, fibrosis and cancers are briefly reviewed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Lachat
- UMR 1098 RIGHT, University Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, INSERM, EFS-BFC, F-25000 Besançon, France; (P.P.); (E.H.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Paul Peixoto
- UMR 1098 RIGHT, University Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, INSERM, EFS-BFC, F-25000 Besançon, France; (P.P.); (E.H.)
- EPIgenetics and GENe EXPression Technical Platform (EPIGENExp), University Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-25000 Besançon, France
| | - Eric Hervouet
- UMR 1098 RIGHT, University Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, INSERM, EFS-BFC, F-25000 Besançon, France; (P.P.); (E.H.)
- EPIgenetics and GENe EXPression Technical Platform (EPIGENExp), University Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-25000 Besançon, France
- DImaCell Platform, University Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-25000 Besançon, France
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Traylor JI, Pernik MN, Plitt AR, Lim M, Garzon-Muvdi T. Immunotherapy for Chordoma and Chondrosarcoma: Current Evidence. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2408. [PMID: 34067530 PMCID: PMC8156915 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13102408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [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: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chordomas and chondrosarcomas are rare but devastating neoplasms that are characterized by chemoradiation resistance. For both tumors, surgical resection is the cornerstone of management. Immunotherapy agents are increasingly improving outcomes in multiple cancer subtypes and are being explored in chordoma and chondrosarcoma alike. In chordoma, brachyury has been identified as a prominent biomarker and potential molecular immunotherapy target as well as PD-1 inhibition. While studies on immunotherapy in chondrosarcoma are sparse, there is emerging evidence and ongoing clinical trials for PD-1 as well as IDH inhibitors. This review highlights potential biomarkers and targets for immunotherapy in chordoma and chondrosarcoma, as well as current clinical evidence and ongoing trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey I. Traylor
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235, USA; (J.I.T.); (M.N.P.); (A.R.P.)
| | - Mark N. Pernik
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235, USA; (J.I.T.); (M.N.P.); (A.R.P.)
| | - Aaron R. Plitt
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235, USA; (J.I.T.); (M.N.P.); (A.R.P.)
| | - Michael Lim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA 94305, USA;
| | - Tomas Garzon-Muvdi
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235, USA; (J.I.T.); (M.N.P.); (A.R.P.)
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DeMaria PJ, Bilusic M, Park DM, Heery CR, Donahue RN, Madan RA, Bagheri MH, Strauss J, Shen V, Marté JL, Steinberg SM, Schlom J, Gilbert MR, Gulley JL. Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase II Study of Yeast-Brachyury Vaccine (GI-6301) in Combination with Standard-of-Care Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced, Unresectable Chordoma. Oncologist 2021; 26:e847-e858. [PMID: 33594772 PMCID: PMC8100546 DOI: 10.1002/onco.13720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brachyury is a transcription factor overexpressed in chordoma and is associated with chemotherapy resistance and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. GI-6301 is a recombinant, heat-killed Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast-based vaccine targeting brachyury. A previous phase I trial of GI-6301 demonstrated a signal of clinical activity in chordomas. This trial evaluated synergistic effects of GI-6301 vaccine plus radiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Adults with locally advanced, unresectable chordoma were treated on a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Patients received three doses of GI-6301 (80 × 107 yeast cells) or placebo followed by radiation, followed by continued vaccine or placebo until progression. Primary endpoint was overall response rate, defined as a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) in the irradiated tumor site at 24 months. Immune assays were conducted to evaluate immunogenicity. RESULTS Between May 2015 and September 2019, 24 patients enrolled on the first randomized phase II study in chordoma. There was one PR in each arm; no CRs were observed. Median progressive-free survival for vaccine and placebo arms was 20.6 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.7-37.5 months) and 25.9 months (95% CI, 9.2-30.8 months), respectively. Hazard ratio was 1.02 (95% CI, 0.38-2.71). Vaccine was well tolerated with no vaccine-related serious adverse events. Preexisting brachyury-specific T cells were detected in most patients in both arms. Most patients developed T-cell responses during therapy, with no difference between arms in frequency or magnitude of response. CONCLUSION No difference in overall response rate was observed, leading to early discontinuation of this trial due to low conditional power to detect statistical difference at the planned end of accrual. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Chordoma is a rare neoplasm lacking effective systemic therapies for advanced, unresectable disease. Lack of clinically actionable somatic mutations in chordoma makes development of targeted therapy quite challenging. While the combination of yeast-brachyury vaccine (GI-6301) and standard radiation therapy did not demonstrate synergistic antitumor effects, brachyury still remains a good target for developmental therapeutics in chordoma. Patients and their oncologists should consider early referral to centers with expertise in chordoma (or sarcoma) and encourage participation in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Joseph DeMaria
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Marijo Bilusic
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Deric M Park
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Christopher R Heery
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Precision Biosciences, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Renee N Donahue
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ravi A Madan
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Mohammad Hadi Bagheri
- Clinical Image Processing Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Julius Strauss
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Victoria Shen
- Clinical Image Processing Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jennifer L Marté
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Seth M Steinberg
- Biostatistics and Data Management Section, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Mark R Gilbert
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - James L Gulley
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Akinduro OO, Suarez-Meade P, Garcia D, Brown DA, Sarabia-Estrada R, Attia S, Gokaslan ZL, Quiñones-Hinojosa A. Targeted Therapy for Chordoma: Key Molecular Signaling Pathways and the Role of Multimodal Therapy. Target Oncol 2021; 16:325-337. [PMID: 33893940 DOI: 10.1007/s11523-021-00814-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chordoma is a rare but devastating tumor that arises in the cranial skull base or spine. There are currently no US Food and Drug Administration-approved targeted therapies for chordoma, and little understanding of whether using more than one therapy has benefit over monotherapy. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to systematically review the current status of clinical trials completed for patients with chordoma to determine if multimodal therapy offers a benefit in progression-free survival over monomodal therapy. METHODS We performed a systematic review of the literature according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to review the available clinical trials of targeted therapy for chordoma. We compiled the clinical data to determine if there is a benefit of multimodal therapy over monotherapy. RESULTS Our search resulted in 11 clinical trials including 270 patients with advanced chordoma who were treated with targeted therapies. The most commonly employed targeted therapies acted within the following pathways: platelet-derived growth factor receptor (187 patients), vascular endothelial growth factor (66 patients), and mammalian target of rapamycin (43 patients). Reported progression-free survival for included studies ranged from 2.5 to 58 months, with the longest progression-free survival in a trial that included a platelet-derived growth factor receptor inhibitor, nilotinib, and concurrent radiotherapy (58.2 months). There was a higher range of progression-free survival for trials treating patients with multimodal therapy (10.2-14 months vs 2.5-9.2 months, except for a monotherapy trial published in 2020 with a progression-free survival of 18 months), and those published in 2018 or later (14-58.2 months vs 2.5-10.2 months). Only 23% of patients with chordoma in published clinical trials have been treated with multimodal therapy. CONCLUSIONS Progression-free survival may be enhanced by the use of targeted therapy with concurrent radiotherapy, use of multimodal therapy, and use of newer targeted therapy. Future clinical trials should consider use of concurrent radiotherapy and multimodal therapy for patients with advanced chordoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwaseun O Akinduro
- Brain Tumor Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd. S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Paola Suarez-Meade
- Brain Tumor Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd. S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Diogo Garcia
- Brain Tumor Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd. S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | | | - Rachel Sarabia-Estrada
- Brain Tumor Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd. S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Steven Attia
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Ziya L Gokaslan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa
- Brain Tumor Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd. S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA.
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Taki M, Abiko K, Ukita M, Murakami R, Yamanoi K, Yamaguchi K, Hamanishi J, Baba T, Matsumura N, Mandai M. Tumor Immune Microenvironment during Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:4669-4679. [PMID: 33827891 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-20-4459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been shown to play a critical role in tumor development from initiation to metastasis. EMT could be regarded as a continuum, with intermediate hybrid epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes having high plasticity. Classical EMT is characterized by the phenotype change of epithelial cells to cells with mesenchymal properties, but EMT is also associated with multiple other molecular processes, including tumor immune evasion. Some previous studies have shown that EMT is associated with the cell number of immunosuppressive cells, such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and the expression of immune checkpoints, such as programmed cell death-ligand 1, in several cancer types. At the molecular level, EMT transcriptional factors, including Snail, Zeb1, and Twist1, produce or attract immunosuppressive cells or promote the expression of immunosuppressive checkpoint molecules via chemokine production, leading to a tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment. In turn, immunosuppressive factors induce EMT in tumor cells. This feedback loop between EMT and immunosuppression promotes tumor progression. For therapy directly targeting EMT has been challenging, the elucidation of the interactive regulation of EMT and immunosuppression is desirable for developing new therapeutic approaches in cancer. The combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors and immunotherapy targeting immunosuppressive cells could be a promising therapy for EMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mana Taki
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
| | - Kaoru Abiko
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masayo Ukita
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ryusuke Murakami
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Koji Yamanoi
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ken Yamaguchi
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Junzo Hamanishi
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Baba
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Morioka, Iwate, Japan
| | - Noriomi Matsumura
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Kindai University, Osaka-sayama, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masaki Mandai
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
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Bilusic M, McMahon S, Madan RA, Karzai F, Tsai YT, Donahue RN, Palena C, Jochems C, Marté JL, Floudas C, Strauss J, Redman J, Abdul Sater H, Rabizadeh S, Soon-Shiong P, Schlom J, Gulley JL. Phase I study of a multitargeted recombinant Ad5 PSA/MUC-1/brachyury-based immunotherapy vaccine in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2021-002374. [PMID: 33762322 PMCID: PMC7993215 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-002374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [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] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Antitumor vaccines targeting tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) can generate antitumor immune response. A novel vaccine platform using adenovirus 5 (Ad5) vectors [E1–, E2b–] targeting three TAAs—prostate-specific antigen (PSA), brachyury, and MUC-1—has been developed. Both brachyury and the C-terminus of MUC-1 are overexpressed in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and have been shown to play an important role in resistance to chemotherapy, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and metastasis. The transgenes for PSA, brachyury, and MUC-1 all contain epitope modifications for the expression of CD8+ T-cell enhancer agonist epitopes. We report here the first-in-human trial of this vaccine platform. Methods Patients with mCRPC were given concurrently three vaccines targeting PSA, brachyury, and MUC-1 at 5×1011 viral particles (VP) each, subcutaneously every 3 weeks for a maximum of three doses (dose de-escalation cohort), followed by a booster vaccine every 8 weeks for 1 year (dose-expansion cohort only). The primary objective was to determine the safety and the recommended phase II dose. Immune assays and clinical responses were evaluated. Results Eighteen patients with mCRPC were enrolled between July 2018 and September 2019 and received at least one vaccination. Median PSA was 25.58 ng/mL (range, 0.65–1006 ng/mL). The vaccine was tolerable and safe, and no grade >3 treatment-related adverse events or dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were observed. One patient had a partial response, while five patients had confirmed PSA decline and five had stable disease for >6 months. Median progression-free survival was 22 weeks (95% CI: 19.1 to 34). Seventeen (100%) of 17 patients mounted T-cell responses to at least one TAA, whereras 8 (47%) of 17 patients mounted immune responses to all three TAAs. Multifunctional T-cell responses to PSA, MUC-1, and brachyury were also detected after vaccination in the majority of the patients. Conclusions Ad5 PSA/MUC-1/brachyury vaccine is well tolerated. The primary end points were met and there were no DLTs. The recommended phase II dose is 5×1011 VP. The vaccine demonstrated clinical activity, including one partial response and confirmed PSA responses in five patients. Three patients with prolonged PSA responses received palliative radiation therapy. Further research is needed to evaluate the clinical benefit and immunogenicity of this vaccine in combination with other immuno-oncology agents and/or palliative radiation therapy. Trial registration number NCT03481816.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marijo Bilusic
- Genitourinary Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Sheri McMahon
- Genitourinary Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ravi A Madan
- Genitourinary Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Fatima Karzai
- Genitourinary Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Yo-Ting Tsai
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Renee N Donahue
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Claudia Palena
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Caroline Jochems
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jennifer L Marté
- Genitourinary Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Charalampos Floudas
- Genitourinary Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Julius Strauss
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jason Redman
- Genitourinary Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Houssein Abdul Sater
- Genitourinary Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - James L Gulley
- Genitourinary Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Gatti-Mays ME, Gameiro SR, Ozawa Y, Knudson KM, Hicks KC, Palena C, Cordes LM, Steinberg SM, Francis D, Karzai F, Lipkowitz S, Donahue RN, Jochems C, Schlom J, Gulley JL. Improving the Odds in Advanced Breast Cancer With Combination Immunotherapy: Stepwise Addition of Vaccine, Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor, Chemotherapy, and HDAC Inhibitor in Advanced Stage Breast Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 10:581801. [PMID: 33747894 PMCID: PMC7977003 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.581801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast tumors commonly harbor low mutational burden, low PD-L1 expression, defective antigen processing/presentation, and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). In a malignancy mostly refractory to checkpoint blockade, there is an unmet clinical need for novel combination approaches that increase tumor immune infiltration and tumor control. Preclinical data have guided the development of this clinical trial combining 1) BN-Brachyury (a poxvirus vaccine platform encoding the tumor associated antigen brachyury), 2) bintrafusp alfa (a bifunctional protein composed of the extracellular domain of the TGF-βRII receptor (TGFβ "trap") fused to a human IgG1 anti-PD-L1), 3), entinostat (a class I histone deacetylase inhibitor), and 4) T-DM1 (ado-trastuzumab emtansine, a standard of care antibody-drug conjugate targeting HER2). We hypothesize that this tetratherapy will induce a robust immune response against HER2+ breast cancer with improved response rates through 1) expanding tumor antigen-specific effector T cells, natural killer cells, and immunostimulatory dendritic cells, 2) improving antigen presentation, and 3) decreasing inhibitory cytokines, regulatory T cells, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. In an orthotopic HER2+ murine breast cancer model, tetratherapy induced high levels of antigen-specific T cell responses, tumor CD8+ T cell/Treg ratio, and augmented the presence of IFNγ- or TNFα-producing CD8+ T cells and IFNγ/TNFα bifunctional CD8+ T cells with increased cytokine production. Similar effects were observed in tumor CD4+ effector T cells. Based on this data, a phase 1b clinical trial evaluating the stepwise addition of BN-Brachyury, bintrafusp alfa, T-DM1 and entinostat in advanced breast cancer was designed. Arm 1 (TNBC) receives BN-Brachyury + bintrafusp alfa. Arm 2 (HER2+) receives T-DM1 + BN-Brachyury + bintrafusp alfa. After safety is established in Arm 2, Arm 3 (HER2+) will receive T-DM1 + BN-Brachyury + bintrafusp alfa + entinostat. Reimaging will occur every 2 cycles (1 cycle = 21 days). Arms 2 and 3 undergo research biopsies at baseline and after 2 cycles to evaluate changes within the TME. Peripheral immune responses will be evaluated. Co-primary objectives are response rate and safety. All arms employ a safety assessment in the initial six patients and a 2-stage Simon design for clinical efficacy (Arm 1 if ≥ three responses of eight then expand to 13 patients; Arms 2 and 3 if ≥ four responses of 14 then expand to 19 patients per arm). Secondary objectives include progression-free survival and changes in tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. Exploratory analyses include changes in peripheral immune cells and cytokines. To our knowledge, the combination of a vaccine, an anti-PD-L1 antibody, entinostat, and T-DM1 has not been previously evaluated in the preclinical or clinical setting. This trial (NCT04296942) is open at the National Cancer Institute (Bethesda, MD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret E. Gatti-Mays
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Sofia R. Gameiro
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Yohei Ozawa
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Karin M. Knudson
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Kristin C. Hicks
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Claudia Palena
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Lisa M. Cordes
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Seth M. Steinberg
- Biostatistics and Data Management Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Deneise Francis
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Fatima Karzai
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Stanley Lipkowitz
- Women’s Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Renee N. Donahue
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Caroline Jochems
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - James L. Gulley
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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Pennington Z, Ehresman J, McCarthy EF, Ahmed AK, Pittman PD, Lubelski D, Goodwin CR, Sciubba DM. Chordoma of the sacrum and mobile spine: a narrative review. Spine J 2021; 21:500-517. [PMID: 33589095 DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2020.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Chordoma is a notochord-derived primary tumor of the skull base and vertebral column known to affect 0.08 to 0.5 per 100,000 persons worldwide. Patients commonly present with mechanical, midline pain with or without radicular features secondary to nerve root compression. Management of these lesions has classically revolved around oncologic resection, defined by en bloc resection of the lesion with negative margins as this was found to significantly improve both local control and overall survival. With advancement in radiation modalities, namely the increased availability of focused photon therapy and proton beam radiation, high-dose (>50 Gy) neoadjuvant or adjuvant radiotherapy is also becoming a standard of care. At present chemotherapy does not appear to have a role, but ongoing investigations into the ontogeny and molecular pathophysiology of chordoma promise to identify therapeutic targets that may further alter this paradigm. In this narrative review we describe the epidemiology, histopathology, diagnosis, and treatment of chordoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zach Pennington
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe St., Meyer 5-185A, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Jeff Ehresman
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe St., Meyer 5-185A, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Edward F McCarthy
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - A Karim Ahmed
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe St., Meyer 5-185A, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Patricia D Pittman
- Department of Neuropathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Daniel Lubelski
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe St., Meyer 5-185A, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - C Rory Goodwin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Daniel M Sciubba
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe St., Meyer 5-185A, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
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Abstract
Ependymoma and chordoma are 2 tumors that occur throughout the craniospinal axis, and for which the extent of neurosurgical resection has a key prognostic role. Both tumors have distinctive pathologic features, yet can present significant diagnostic challenges to pathologists in cases without classical histology. The molecular understanding of ependymoma has had significant advances in the past decade, with the identification of 9 molecular groups with significant prognostic and clinical implications, while a comprehensive study of chordoma further emphasized the key role of brachyury overexpression in its pathogenesis. In this review, we discuss the pathogenesis, radiology and gross pathology, histology, and molecular features of these 2 tumors, as well as active research into targeted therapies, with an emphasis on practical diagnostic challenges, and the use of immunohistochemical and molecular tests in routine diagnostic practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian B Levine
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Derek Wong
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mostafa Fatehi
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stephen Yip
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Ramamoorthi G, Kodumudi K, Gallen C, Zachariah NN, Basu A, Albert G, Beyer A, Snyder C, Wiener D, Costa RLB, Czerniecki BJ. Disseminated cancer cells in breast cancer: Mechanism of dissemination and dormancy and emerging insights on therapeutic opportunities. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 78:78-89. [PMID: 33626407 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Metastatic spread in breast cancer patients is the major driver of cancer-related deaths. A unique subset of cells disseminated from pre-invasive or primary tumor lesions are recognized as the main seeds for metastatic outgrowth. Disseminated cancer cells (DCCs) can migrate to distant organs and settle in a dormant state for a prolonged period until they emerge to overt metastases. Understanding the biology of breast cancer cells dissemination, dormancy and reactivation to form overt metastases has become an important focus. In this review, we discuss the recent advancements of molecular pathways involving breast cancer cell dissemination, role of chemokine-chemokine receptor networks in DCCs migration, DCCs phenotypic heterogeneity and unique genes signatures in tumor dormancy, microenvironmental regulation and specific niches that favors DCCs homing and dormancy. In addition, we also discuss recent findings relating to the role of immune response on DCC dissemination and dormancy. With recent advances in the field of immunotherapy/targeted therapy and its beneficial effects in cancer treatment, this review will focus on their impact on DCCs, reversal of stemness, tumor dormancy and metastatic relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganesan Ramamoorthi
- Clinical Science & Immunology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Krithika Kodumudi
- Clinical Science & Immunology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Corey Gallen
- Clinical Science & Immunology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Nadia Nocera Zachariah
- Clinical Science & Immunology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States; Department of Breast Oncology H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Amrita Basu
- Clinical Science & Immunology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Gabriella Albert
- Clinical Science & Immunology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Amber Beyer
- Clinical Science & Immunology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Colin Snyder
- Clinical Science & Immunology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Doris Wiener
- Clinical Science & Immunology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Ricardo L B Costa
- Clinical Science & Immunology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States; Department of Breast Oncology H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Brian J Czerniecki
- Clinical Science & Immunology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States; Department of Breast Oncology H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States.
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Pastor DM, Lee-Wisdom K, Arai AE, Sirajuddin A, Rosing DR, Korchin B, Gulley JL, Bilusic M. Fast Clearance of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus in a Patient Undergoing Vaccine Immunotherapy for Metastatic Chordoma: A Case Report. Front Oncol 2020; 10:603248. [PMID: 33330104 PMCID: PMC7717959 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.603248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been associated with perplexing clinical sequelae and phenomena that often have no clear link to the underlying infection. There is a wide spectrum of symptoms associated with infection, from minimal respiratory complaints to severe multi-organ failure, often resulting in death. Individuals with malignancies, particularly those whose treatments have left them immunocompromised or immunosuppressed, are among the patient populations thought to be at greater risk for more severe illness. A man with aggressive metastatic chordoma contracted the SARS-CoV-2 virus and was diagnosed with COVID-19 while undergoing intravenous brachyury vaccine immunotherapy. His disease course was remarkably mild, and the virus cleared rapidly. Despite a treatment delay of 3 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the patient’s disease has been stable and tumor-related pain has significantly improved. This suggests not only an intact, functional immune system, but also one that appears to have been responsive to cancer treatment. It has been suggested that individuals undergoing treatment for metastatic cancer are at greater risk of severe SARS-CoV-2-related illnesses and complications. While immunosuppression may be a problem, particularly in those receiving conventional chemotherapeutic agents, it is possible that the non-specific effects of immune-enhancing therapies may confer some protection against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M Pastor
- Medical Oncology Service, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Katherine Lee-Wisdom
- Medical Oncology Service, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Andrew E Arai
- Cardiovascular Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Arlene Sirajuddin
- Cardiovascular Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Douglas R Rosing
- Cardiovascular Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | | | - James L Gulley
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Marijo Bilusic
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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Wei R, Dean DC, Thanindratarn P, Hornicek FJ, Guo W, Duan Z. Prognostic Significance of Cyclin E1 Expression in Patients With Chordoma: A Clinicopathological and Immunohistochemical Study. Front Oncol 2020; 10:596330. [PMID: 33282745 PMCID: PMC7705258 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.596330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Chordomas are rare, slow-growing sarcomas without any accepted prognostic biomarkers. Owing to their proximity to critical neurovascular structures, discovering predictive biomarkers in chordoma has been a significant research effort because it may potentially reduce risky therapies in patients with less aggressive tumors. In response, because cyclin E1 overexpression correlates with patient prognosis in several malignancies, we investigated its expression in chordoma and whether it informs patient prognosis. METHODS Seventy-five chordoma patient specimens were enrolled in a tissue microarray (TMA) to evaluate cyclin E1 expression via immunohistochemical staining. Western blot was used to assess cyclin E1 expression in chordoma cell lines and fresh tissues. We then correlated cyclin E1 staining intensity in the TMA to clinicopathological features and chordoma patient outcomes. RESULTS Sixty-three percent of the chordoma patient specimens in the TMA, fifty-six percent of the fresh chordoma tissues, and all chordoma cell lines showed high cyclin E1 expression. In TMA analysis, cyclin E1 expression positively correlated to chordoma patient disease status. By survival analysis, high cyclin E1 expression was an independent prognostic risk factor for chordoma patients along with advanced disease status and positive surgical margin. CONCLUSION Cyclin E1 is a promising biomarker predicting chordoma patient prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Wei
- Musculoskeletal Tumor Center, Beijing Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Tumor, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
- Sarcoma Biology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Dylan C. Dean
- Sarcoma Biology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Pichaya Thanindratarn
- Sarcoma Biology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chulabhorn Hospital, HRH Princess Chulabhorn College of Medical Science, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Francis J. Hornicek
- Sarcoma Biology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Wei Guo
- Musculoskeletal Tumor Center, Beijing Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Tumor, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenfeng Duan
- Sarcoma Biology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Heft Neal ME, Michmerhuizen NL, Prince ME, Kovatch KJ, Owen JHJ, Zhai J, Jiang H, McKean EL, Brenner JC. Advancement of PI3 Kinase Inhibitor Combination Therapies for PI3K-Aberrant Chordoma. J Neurol Surg B Skull Base 2020; 83:87-98. [PMID: 35155075 PMCID: PMC8824629 DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1716694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractObjectives Targeted inhibitors of the PI3 kinase (PI3K) pathway have shown promising but incomplete antitumor activity in preclinical chordoma models. The aim of this study is to advance methodology for a high-throughput drug screen using chordoma models to identify new combination therapies for chordoma.Study Design Present work is an in vitro study.Setting The study conducted at an academic research laboratory.Materials and Methods An in vitro study on automated high-throughput screening of chordoma cells was performed using a library of 1,406 drugs as both mono- and combination therapies with PI3K inhibitors. Combination indices were determined for dual therapies and synergistic outliers were identified as potential therapeutic agents. T (brachyury) siRNA knockdown in combination with PI3K pathway inhibition was also assessed.Results Fifty-nine combination therapies were identified as having potential therapeutic efficacy. Effective combinations included PI3K inhibitors with GSK1838705A (ALK/IGF-1R inhibitor), LY2874455 (VEGFR/FGFR inhibitor), El1 (selective Ezh2 inhibitor), and (-)-p-bromotetramisole oxalate (alkaline phosphatase inhibitor). The top ranking targets identified included ALK, PDGFR, VEGFR, aurora kinase, and BCL-2. T (brachyury) inhibition produced significant reduction in cell viability and growth; however PI3K inhibition in combination with T (brachyury) knockdown did not result in further reduction in growth and viability in vitro.Conclusion High throughput with in vitro combination screening is feasible with chordoma cells and allows for rapid identification of synergistic dual-therapies. Potential combination therapies and targetable pathways were identified. T (brachyury) knockdown produced significant reduction in cell viability, but did not show additional benefit with PI3K pathway inhibition in this model. Further in vitro and in vivo validation of these therapeutic combinations is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly E. Heft Neal
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Nicole L. Michmerhuizen
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Mark E.P. Prince
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Kevin J. Kovatch
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - John Henry J. Owen
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Jingyi Zhai
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Heath, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Hui Jiang
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Heath, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Erin L. McKean
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - J. Chad Brenner
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
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Shahnazari M, Samadi P, Pourjafar M, Jalali A. Therapeutic vaccines for colorectal cancer: The progress and future prospect. Int Immunopharmacol 2020; 88:106944. [PMID: 33182032 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.106944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cancer vaccines are usually derived from the patient's tumor cells or the antigens found on their surface, which may help the immune system to identify and kill these malignant cells. Current focus of many researches is designing vaccines with the hope of triggering the immune system to attack cancer cells in a more effective, reliable and safe manner. Although colorectal cancer (CRC) is recognized as the third leading cause of death by cancer, but significant advances in therapy strategies have been made in recent years, including cancer vaccine. In this review, we present various vaccine platforms that have been used in the border battle against CRC, some of which have been approved for clinical use and some are in late-stage clinical trials. Until September 2020 there is approximately 1940 clinical trials of cancer vaccines on patients with different cancer types, and also many more trials are in the planning stages, which makes it the most important period of therapeutic cancer vaccines studies in the history of the immunotherapy. In cancer vaccines clinical trials, there are several considerations that must be taken into account including engineering of antigen-presenting cells, potential toxicity of antigenic areas, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of vaccines, and monitoring of the patients' immune response. Therefore, the need to overcome immunosuppression mechanisms/immune tolerance is a critical step for the success of introducing therapeutic vaccines into the widely used drugs on market. In this way, better understanding of neoantigens, tumor immune surveillance escape mechanisms and host-tumor interactions are required to develop more effective and safe cancer vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Shahnazari
- Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran; Student Research Committee, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Pouria Samadi
- Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran; Student Research Committee, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
| | - Mona Pourjafar
- Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran; Student Research Committee, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Akram Jalali
- Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
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Abstract
Glioblastomas (GBMs) are the most aggressive tumor type of the central nervous system, mainly due to their high invasiveness and innate resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, with temozolomide (TMZ) being the current standard therapy. Recently, brachyury was described as a novel tumor suppressor gene in gliomas, and its loss was associated with increased gliomagenesis. Here, we aimed to explore the role of brachyury as a suppressor of glioma invasion, stem cell features, and resistance to TMZ. Using gene-edited glioma cells to overexpress brachyury, we found that brachyury-positive cells exhibit reduced invasive and migratory capabilities and stem cell features. Importantly, these brachyury-expressing cells have increased expression of differentiation markers, which corroborates the results from human glioma samples and in vivo tumors. Glioma cells treated with retinoic acid increased the differentiation status with concomitant increased expression of brachyury. We then selected TMZ-resistant (SNB-19) and TMZ-responsive (A172 and U373) cell lines to evaluate the role of brachyury in the response to TMZ treatment. We observed that both exogenous and endogenous brachyury activation, through overexpression and retinoic acid treatment, are associated with TMZ sensitization in glioma-resistant cell lines. In this study, we demonstrate that brachyury expression can impair aggressive glioma features associated with treatment resistance. Finally, we provide the first evidence that brachyury can be a potential therapeutic target in GBM patients who do not respond to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Pinto
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- I3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto - IPATIMUP, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ângela M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- I3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
- INEB-Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - Raquel P Andrade
- Centre for Biomedical Research - CBMR, University of Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
- Algarve Biomedical Center, Campus Gambelas, Edificio 2. Ala Norte, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
- Department of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Rui Manuel Reis
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, SP, 14784-400, Brazil.
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Hoffman SE, Al Abdulmohsen SA, Gupta S, Hauser BM, Meredith DM, Dunn IF, Bi WL. Translational Windows in Chordoma: A Target Appraisal. Front Neurol 2020; 11:657. [PMID: 32733369 PMCID: PMC7360834 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chordomas are rare tumors that are notoriously refractory to chemotherapy and radiotherapy when radical surgical resection is not achieved or upon recurrence after maximally aggressive treatment. The study of chordomas has been complicated by small patient cohorts and few available model systems due to the rarity of these tumors. Emerging next-generation sequencing technologies have broadened understanding of this disease by implicating novel pathways for possible targeted therapy. Mutations in cell-cycle regulation and chromatin remodeling genes have been identified in chordomas, but their significance remains unknown. Investigation of the immune microenvironment of these tumors suggests that checkpoint protein expression may influence prognosis, and adjuvant immunotherapy may improve patient outcome. Finally, growing evidence supports aberrant growth factor signaling as potential pathogenic mechanisms in chordoma. In this review, we characterize the impact on treatment opportunities offered by the genomic and immunologic landscape of this tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha E Hoffman
- Center for Skull Base and Pituitary Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sally A Al Abdulmohsen
- Center for Skull Base and Pituitary Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Saksham Gupta
- Center for Skull Base and Pituitary Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Blake M Hauser
- Center for Skull Base and Pituitary Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - David M Meredith
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ian F Dunn
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Wenya Linda Bi
- Center for Skull Base and Pituitary Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
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47
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Chen M, Wu Y, Zhang H, Li S, Zhou J, Shen J. The Roles of Embryonic Transcription Factor BRACHYURY in Tumorigenesis and Progression. Front Oncol 2020; 10:961. [PMID: 32695672 PMCID: PMC7338565 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factor brachyury, with a DNA-binding T-domain, regulates posterior mesoderm formation and notochord development through binding with highly conserved palindromic consensus sequence in a variety of organisms. The absence of brachyury expression in majority of adult normal tissues and exclusive tumor-specific expression provides the potential to be developed into a novel and promising diagnostic and therapeutic target in cancer. As a sensitive and specific marker in the diagnosis of chordoma, brachyury protein has been verified to involve in the process of carcinogenesis and progression of chordoma and several epithelial carcinomas in various studies, but the mechanism by which brachyury promotes tumor cells migrate, invade and metastasis still remains less clear. To this end, we attempt to summarize the literature on the upstream regulatory pathway of brachyury transcription and downstream controlling network by brachyury activation, all of which involve in both the embryonic development and tumor progression. We present the respective correlation of brachyury expression with tumor progression, distant metastasis, survival rate and prognosis in several types of tumor samples (including chordoma, lung cancer, breast carcinoma, and prostate cancer), and various brachyury gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments are summarized to explore its specific role in respective tumor cell line in vitro. In addition, we also discuss another two programs relating to brachyury function: epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell cycle control, both of which implicate in the regulation of brachyury on biological behavior of tumor cells. This review will provide an overview of the function of master transcriptional factor brachyury, compare the similarities and differences of its role between embryonic development and carcinogenesis, and list the evidence on which brachyury-target therapies have the potential to help control advanced cancer populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Chen
- Department of Orthopeadic Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.,Department of Orthopeadic Surgery, Wuxi No. 2 People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Yinghui Wu
- Department of Orthopeadic Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.,Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Suzhou, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Orthopeadic Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.,Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Suzhou, China
| | - Suoyuan Li
- Department of Orthopeadic Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.,Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Suzhou, China
| | - Jundong Zhou
- Suzhou Cancer Center Core Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jun Shen
- Department of Orthopeadic Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.,Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Suzhou, China
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Abstract
Chordomas are malignant bone tumours with a reported annual incidence of 0.08 per 100,000 cases. They show a notochordal differentiation and are characterised by their nuclear expression of brachyury (TBXT). Chordomas are localised in the axial skeleton, where they occur from the clivus to the sacrococcygeal region. They are slow growing, locally destructive tumours, and are often not diagnosed until they have reached an advanced stage. Putative precursor-lesions are benign notochordal cell lesions, which are microscopically small and intraosseous. Different histological chordoma subtypes exist, which differ in their prognosis. To date, there are no known recurrent genetic drivers for this disease. Brachyury seems to play a key role in the pathogenesis of chordoma, though the detailed mechanism still needs to be elucidated. Surgical en bloc resection with negative margins is the only curative treatment for this disease. High-dose irradiation, particularly with protons and carbon ions, is a therapeutic alternative in cases of inoperable tumours. Currently, there is no approved medical treatment for chordoma. Clinical trials exploring additional therapeutic modalities are ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Scheipl
- Univ.-Klinik für Orthopädie und Traumatologie, Medizinische Universität Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 5, 8036, Graz, Österreich.
| | - Jasminka Igrec
- Univ.-Klinik für Radiologie, Medizinische Universität Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 9, 8036, Graz, Österreich
| | - Andreas Leithner
- Univ.-Klinik für Orthopädie und Traumatologie, Medizinische Universität Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 5, 8036, Graz, Österreich
| | - Maria Smolle
- Univ.-Klinik für Orthopädie und Traumatologie, Medizinische Universität Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 5, 8036, Graz, Österreich
| | - Johannes Haybäck
- Institut für Pathologie, Neuropathologie und Molekularpathologie, Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Müllerstraße 44, 6020, Innsbruck, Österreich
- Institut für Pathologie, Univ.-Klinikum Magdeburg A.ö.R., Medizinische Fakultät, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Leipziger Straße 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Deutschland
- Diagnostik- und Forschungsinstitut für Pathologie, Medizinische Universität Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6, 8010, Graz, Österreich
| | - Bernadette Liegl
- Diagnostik- und Forschungsinstitut für Pathologie, Medizinische Universität Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6, 8010, Graz, Österreich
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Abstract
Tumor cell plasticity exhibited as an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been identified as a major obstacle for the effective treatment of many cancers. This process, which involves the dedifferentiation of epithelial tumor cells towards a motile, metastatic, and mesenchymal tumor phenotype, mediates resistance to conventional therapies and small-molecule targeted therapies. In this review, we highlight current research correlating the role of tumor plasticity with resistance to current immunotherapy approaches and discuss future and ongoing combination immunotherapy strategies to reduce tumor cell plasticity-driven resistance in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas A Horn
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kristen Fousek
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Claudia Palena
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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Robinson H, McFarlane RJ, Wakeman JA. Brachyury: Strategies for Drugging an Intractable Cancer Therapeutic Target. Trends Cancer 2020; 6:271-3. [PMID: 32209441 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2020.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
New approaches to drug discovery are unlocking enormous therapeutic potential residing in cancer-specific molecules. Brachyury is emerging as an exciting new drug target for the rare bone cancer chordoma. Here, recent advances targeting Brachyury in chordoma are discussed and how these might open doors to the targeting of other, more common cancer types.
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