Comparing anti-tumor and anti-self immunity in a patient with melanoma receiving immune checkpoint blockade

BACKGROUND

Tumor regression following immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is often associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs), marked by inflammation in non-cancerous tissues. This study was undertaken to investigate the functional relationship between anti-tumor and anti-self immunity, to facilitate irAE management while promoting anti-tumor immunity.

METHODS

Multiple biopsies from tumor and inflamed tissues were collected from a patient with melanoma experiencing both tumor regression and irAEs on ICB, who underwent rapid autopsy. Immune cells infiltrating melanoma lesions and inflamed normal tissues were subjected to gene expression profiling with multiplex qRT-PCR for 122 candidate genes. Subsequently, immunohistochemistry was conducted to assess the expression of 14 candidate markers of immune cell subsets and checkpoints. TCR-beta sequencing was used to explore T cell clonal repertoires across specimens.

RESULTS

While genes involved in MHC I/II antigen presentation, IFN signaling, innate immunity and immunosuppression were abundantly expressed across specimens, irAE tissues over-expressed certain genes associated with immunosuppression (CSF1R, IL10RA, IL27/EBI3, FOXP3, KLRG1, SOCS1, TGFB1), including those in the COX-2/PGE2 pathway (IL1B, PTGER1/EP1 and PTGER4/EP4). Immunohistochemistry revealed similar proportions of immunosuppressive cell subsets and checkpoint molecules across samples. TCRseq did not indicate common TCR repertoires across tumor and inflammation sites, arguing against shared antigen recognition between anti-tumor and anti-self immunity in this patient.

CONCLUSIONS

This comprehensive study of a single patient with melanoma experiencing both tumor regression and irAEs on ICB explores the immune landscape across these tissues, revealing similarities between anti-tumor and anti-self immunity. Further, it highlights expression of the COX-2/PGE2 pathway, which is known to be immunosuppressive and potentially mediates ICB resistance. Ongoing clinical trials of COX-2/PGE2 pathway inhibitors targeting the major COX-2 inducer IL-1B, COX-2 itself, or the PGE2 receptors EP2 and EP4 present new opportunities to promote anti-tumor activity, but may also have the potential to enhance the severity of ICB-induced irAEs.

Pediatric Postmortem Tissue Donation in the Confines of a Pandemic: A Model of Collaboration

BACKGROUND

Obtaining postmortem tissue from pediatric oncology patients is critical to research and may help grieving families heal. Since 2019, the national Gift from a Child program has made significant progress in collecting postmortem tissue from pediatric patients with central nervous system tumors to advance research. This progress was at risk during the onset of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic, when some autopsy programs came to a halt.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed autopsies of four patients treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center who underwent postmortem examination at Weill Cornell Medicine from June 2020 to March 2021. We collected patient demographics, Do not resuscitate status, time of death and procedure, restrictions due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and results of the tissue analysis.

RESULTS

Three of four specimens were processed within 12 hours of the time of death. Two families required interpreter services to obtain consent. In all cases, tumor aliquots were flash frozen for further study. Cell line generation was successful in one case. All families expressed gratitude both for the opportunity to participate and for the handling of the procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the sensitive nature of these cases and the challenges presented by COVID-19 restrictions, clinicians should offer the option of a rapid autopsy to caregivers of pediatric patients based on the scientific need and the positive effect it has on grieving families. This article outlines the logistic efforts required for these donations to take place and provides a framework for providers to offer rapid autopsy as an option for families through this program.

The art and science of recruitment to a cancer rapid autopsy programme: A qualitative study exploring patient and clinician experiences

BACKGROUND

CASCADE is a successful, Australia-first cancer rapid autopsy programme. Patients are recruited to the programme by their clinician once they understand that further treatment has only palliative intent. Despite its value, rapid autopsy is a rare research method owing partly to recruitment challenges.

AIM

This research aimed to explore (1) how, in practice, clinicians select and recruit patients to the programme and (2) patient experiences of this process.

DESIGN

This was a qualitative study grounded in phenomenology. CASCADE team members (clinicians and researchers) and patients participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using an inductive, team-based approach to thematic analysis.

PARTICIPANTS

Interviews were conducted with 31 participants (11 patients and 20 CASCADE team members).

RESULTS

Patient selection and recruitment to a rapid autopsy programme is both an art and science. In practice, patient selection is a subjective process that involves assessing a patient's psychosocial suitability for the programme. Trust and rapport are necessary for informing this assessment and to create an environment conducive to discussing rapid autopsy. Clinicians have also crafted their own ways of delivering information about CASCADE, with both clinicians and patients acknowledging that, if not handled sensitively, recruitment could cause distress. Overall, patients were satisfied with the way in which they were recruited.

CONCLUSION

Findings provide insight into how clinicians successfully select and recruit patients to a rapid autopsy programme and suggests that discussing such topics are acceptable to end-of-life patients. This research also raises thought-provoking questions about the 'gatekeeping' role of clinicians in recruitment.

Polypoidal giant cancer cells in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: observations from the Michigan Legacy Tissue Program

Despite early diagnosis and established protocols, a subset of prostate cancer patients will eventually be categorized as castration-resistant prostate cancer. Recently, it has been reported that these multi-modal therapy cases may harbor a special subset of cancer cells termed as polypoidal giant cancer cells (PGCC). These cells are phenotypically described either as possessing highly irregular polylobated nuclei or multiple pleomorphic nuclei. To identify and characterize the distribution of these cells, we created a cohort of 5 randomly selected cases of multi-modal therapy failure prostate cancer (16 selected non-osseous and osseous tumor sites) enrolled in Michigan Legacy Tissue Program. In all cases, specific "regions of interest" or "hot spots" within tumor areas showing an increased proportion of these multi-nucleated/polylobated cells under light microscopy were labeled as PGCC-rich area. On microscopic evaluation, overall mean count of PGCC was 42.4 ± 3.91 with case 2 in the study cohort with the highest number of average PGCC count of 17 ± 4.04. Site wise analysis showed retroperitoneal lymph node as the tissue with highest number of average PGCC number/site (5.0 ± 0.32). On correlating the average number of PGCC recorded with the time elapsed from last dose of chemotherapy administered to autopsy, the spearman correlation value (R) was 0.67, but the result was not statistically significant (p = 0.22). A systematic assessment of PGCC in a large stratified cohort of prostate cancer patients integrated with various histopathological and clinical parameters along with discovery of specific biomarkers for PGCC are the future studies suggested.

Plasmacytoid urothelial carcinoma: a rapid autopsy case report with unique clinicopathologic and genomic profile

Background

Rapid (“warm”) autopsies of patients with advanced metastatic cancer provide important insight into the natural history, pathobiology and histomorphology of disease in treatment-resistant tumors. Plasmacytoid urothelial carcinoma (PUC) is a rare variant of urothelial carcinoma characterized by neoplastic cells morphologically resembling plasma cells. PUC is typically aggressive, high-stage at presentation, and associated with poor outcomes. Recurrence is common in PUC, with the majority of recurrences occurring in the peritoneum.

Case presentation

Here, we report rapid autopsy findings from a patient with recurrent PUC. The patient had persistent pain after cystoprostatectomy, although initial post-operative imaging showed no evidence of disease. Imaging obtained shortly before his death showed only subtle growth along vascular tissue planes; however, extensive disease was seen on autopsy. Plasmacytoid tumor cells formed sheets involving many serosal surfaces. Molecular interrogation confirmed a mutation in CDH1 exon 12 leading to early truncation of the CDH1 protein in the tumor cells.

Conclusions

The sheet-like growth pattern of PUC makes early phases of disease spread much more difficult to capture on cross-sectional imaging. Alternative forms of surveillance may be required for detection of recurrent PUC, and providers may need to treat based on symptoms and clinical suspicion.

Patient, caregiver and physician perspectives on participating in a thoracic rapid tissue donation program

OBJECTIVE

The collection of posthumous tissue from advanced stage lung cancer patients is beneficial to medical science. Recruiting living patients to a Rapid Tissue Donation Program (RTD) poses several psychosocial challenges and little is known about perceptions of joining this type of program. This study qualitatively examined perceptions of advanced stage lung cancer patients (n=14) participating in a lung cancer RTD program, their NoK (n=11), and physicians (n=6) at the Thoracic Oncology Clinic at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida USA.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants and interview transcripts were analyzed using the constant comparison method.

RESULTS

Majority of patients joined to give back to research, discussed participation with family members, and desired for family to receive information about the use of the tissue after their death. All participating NoK were supportive of their family member's decision. Physicians described the program as running smoothly, but provided suggestions for process improvements.

CONCLUSION

Participants joined with intention to give back to research community and families were supportive of loved one's participation in RTD. Physicians agreed with overall process.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Key factors for a successful RTD program is tailoring to institutional and individual needs.

Stakeholder perceptions of thoracic rapid tissue donation: An exploratory study

Rapid autopsy or rapid tissue donation (RTD) is a novel method of tissue procurement in which 'fresh' tissue is collected within 2-6 h following the death of a patient. While the use of RTD offers many opportunities to develop new therapies for lung cancer patients, it raises ethical concerns. The purpose of this study was to examine knowledge, perceptions and ethical concerns about recruiting patients for an RTD program. To achieve research goals, we conducted six focus groups, each containing 5-10 participants (N = 38). Participants were cancer patients (n = 17) their caregivers (n = 6), physicians (n = 6) and clinic staff (n = 9) from the Thoracic Oncology Program at Moffitt Cancer Center, in Tampa, Florida, USA. All focus groups were audio-recorded and conducted using a semi-structured focus group guide. The transcripts were analyzed using hand-coding methods. Data were coded independently by at least two researchers, and an inter-rater reliability rate of ≥90% was achieved. Knowledge about RTD was low among all groups, with physicians having slightly higher knowledge; all groups agreed that RTD offered major benefits to cancer research; physicians and clinic staff were mainly concerned about making a patient feel uncomfortable and reducing hope, while, patients and family members were more concerned about logistics and how the family would be affected during tissue retrieval. All groups agreed the physician was the appropriate person to begin a discussion about RTD and that recruitment should be individualized. All groups reported that physician training is necessary, as well as an awareness campaign for patients and families to be more receptive about RTD. The results of this study suggested more education is needed for all stakeholders to learn about RTD prior to the initiation of a research program. Our approach of querying all stakeholders provides a firm foundation for future training modules regarding RTD programs in lung cancer.