scholarly journals Is inflammatory micronucleation the key to a successful anti-mitotic cancer drug?

Open Biology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 170182 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. Mitchison ◽  
J. Pineda ◽  
J. Shi ◽  
S. Florian
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cancer Drug ◽  
Tumour Regression ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Drug Candidates ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Inflammatory Signalling

Paclitaxel is a successful anti-cancer drug that kills cancer cells in two-dimensional culture through perturbation of mitosis, but whether it causes tumour regression by anti-mitotic actions is controversial. Drug candidates that specifically target mitosis, including inhibitors of kinesin-5, AurkA, AurkB and Plk1, disappointed in the clinic. Current explanations for this discrepancy include pharmacokinetic differences and hypothetical interphase actions of paclitaxel. Here, we discuss post-mitotic micronucleation as a special activity of taxanes that might explain their higher activity in solid tumours. We review data showing that cells which exit mitosis in paclitaxel are highly micronucleated and suffer post-mitotic DNA damage, and that these effects are much stronger for paclitaxel than kinesin-5 inhibitors. We propose that post-mitotic micronucleation promotes inflammatory signalling via cGAS–STING and other pathways. In tumours, this signalling may recruit cytotoxic leucocytes, damage blood vessels and prime T-cell responses, leading to whole-tumour regression. We discuss experiments that are needed to test the micronucleation hypothesis, and its implications for novel anti-mitotic targets and enhancement of taxane-based therapies.

Epitope/Peptide-Based Monoclonal Antibodies for Immunotherapy of Ovarian Cancer

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory Lee
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Human Cancer ◽  
Cancer Drug ◽  
Variable Regions ◽  
Drug Candidates ◽  
Biological Studies ◽  
Anti Cancer

Two monoclonal antibodies, RP215 and GHR106, were selected, respectively, for the research and development of anti-cancer drugs targeting ovarian cancer and other types of human cancer. RP215 was shown to react with a carbohydrate-associated epitope located mainly in the variable regions of immunoglobulin heavy chains expressed on the surface of almost all cancer cells in humans. GHR106 was generated against a synthetic peptide corresponding to N1-29 amino acid residues in the extracellular domains of human GnRH receptor, which is surface-expressed by most cancer cells as well as the anterior pituitary. This monoclonal antibody was shown to serve as a bioequivalent analog to GnRH-derived decapeptides currently used clinically. The molecular mechanisms of action of these two antibody-based anti-cancer drug candidates were well elucidated following numerous biochemical, immunological, and molecular biological studies, mainly by using ovarian cancer as the model. Further preclinical studies with humanized forms of these two antibodies are essential.

443 An immunotherapy trio in advanced HNSCC for coordinated B and T cell antigen response

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A469-A469
Author(s):  
Bernard Fox ◽  
Tarsem Moudgil ◽  
Traci Hilton ◽  
Noriko Iwamoto ◽  
Christopher Paustian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Immune Response ◽  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Bead Arrays ◽  
Hnscc Cell

BackgroundOutcomes for recurrent or metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are dismal and responses to anti-PD-1 appear best in tumors with PD-1+ T cells in proximity to PD-L1+ cells, arguing that improved outcome is associated with a pre-existing anti-cancer immune response. Based on this, we hypothesize that vaccines which prime and/or expand T cells to a spectrum of antigens overexpressed by HNSCC combined with T cell agonists, like anti-GITR, that provide costimulatory signals will improve the anti-PD-1 response rates. We have developed a cancer vaccine, DPV-001, that contains more than 300 proteins for genes overexpressed by HNSCC, encapsulated in a CLEC9A-targeted microvesicle and containing TLR/NOD agonists and DAMPs. Recently, we reported that combining anti-GITR + vaccine + anti-PD-1 augmented therapeutic efficacy in a preclinical model and now plan a phase 1b trial of this combination in patients with advanced HNSCC.MethodsSera from patients receiving DPV-001 as adjuvant therapy for definitively treated NSCLC, were analyzed for IgG responses to human proteins by MAP bead arrays and results compared to TCGA gene expression data sets for HNSCC. HNSCC cell lines were evaluated by RNASeq and peptides were eluted from HLA, analyzed by mass spectroscopy and correlated against MAP bead arrays and TCGA data sets. Tumor-reactive T cells from a vaccinated patient were enriched and expanded, and used in cytokine release assay (CRA) against autologous NSCLC and partially HLA matched allogeneic HNSCC cell lines.ResultsPatients receiving DPV-001 (N=13) made 147 IgG responses to at least 70 proteins for genes overexpressed by HNSCC. Preliminary evaluation of the HNSCC peptidome against the results of MAP bead array identify antigens that are target of a humoral immune response. Additionally, tumor-reactive T cells from DPV-001 vaccinated patient recognize two partially HLA-matched HNSCC targets, but not a mis-matched target.ConclusionsRecent observations from our lab and others have correlated IgG Ab responses with T cell responses to epitopes of the same protein. Based on the data summarized above, we hypothesize that we have induced T cell responses against a broad spectrum of shared cancer antigens that are common among adenocarcinomas and squamous cell cancers. Our planned clinical trial will vaccinate and boost the induced responses by costimulation with anti-GITR and then sequence in delayed anti-PD-1 to relieve checkpoint inhibition. MAP bead arrays and the peptidome library generated above will be used to assess anti-cancer B and T cell responses.Trial RegistrationNCT04470024Ethics ApprovalThe original clinical trial was approved by the Providence Portland Medical Center IRB, approval # 13-046. The proposed clinical trial has not yet been reviewed by the IRB.

Activating T cells with asparagine

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (668) ◽  
pp. eabg8244
Author(s):  
Wei Wong
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
Cell Responses

Extracellular asparagine stimulates Lck to promote T cell responses to cancer cells and infection.

scholarly journals Oxidation-Triggerable Liposome Incorporating Poly(Hydroxyethyl Acrylate-co-Allyl methyl sulfide) as an Anticancer Carrier of Doxorubicin

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Ah Kim ◽  
Dong Youl Yoon ◽  
Jin-Chul Kim
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Surface Activity ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Drug Carriers ◽  
Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽  
Cancer Drug ◽  
Confocal Laser ◽  
H2o2 Treatment ◽  
Methyl Sulfide ◽  
Anti Cancer

Since cancer cells are oxidative in nature, anti-cancer agents can be delivered to cancer cells specifically without causing severe normal cell toxicity if the drug carriers are designed to be sensitive to the intrinsic characteristic. Oxidation-sensitive liposomes were developed by stabilizing dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE) bilayers with folate-conjugated poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate-co-allyl methyl sulfide) (F-P(HEA-AMS)). The copolymer, synthesized by a free radical polymerization, was surface-active but lost its surface activity after AMS unit was oxidized by H2O2 treatment. The liposomes with F-P(HEA-AMS) were sensitive to H2O2 concentration (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0%) in terms of release, possibly because the copolymer lost its surface activity and its bilayer-stabilizing ability upon oxidation. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) revealed that doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded liposomes stabilized with folate-conjugated copolymers markedly promoted the transport of the anti-cancer drug to cancer cells. This was possible because the liposomes were readily translocated into the cancer cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis. This liposome would be applicable to the delivery carrier of anticancer drugs.

scholarly journals Development of a Cationic Amphiphilic Helical Peptidomimetic (B18L) As A Novel Anti-Cancer Drug Lead

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Lyu ◽  
Steven Kopcho ◽  
Folnetti A. Alvarez ◽  
Bryson C. Okeoma ◽  
Chioma M. Okeoma
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Cancer Drug ◽  
Cancer Cell Death ◽  
Drug Lead ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Cancer Agent ◽  
Caspase Substrate ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

BST-2 is a novel driver of cancer progression whose expression confers oncogenic properties to breast cancer cells. As such, targeting BST-2 in tumors may be an effective therapeutic approach against breast cancer. Here, we sought to develop potent cytotoxic anti-cancer agent using the second-generation BST-2-based anti-adhesion peptide, B18, as backbone. To this end, we designed a series of five B18-derived peptidomimetics. Among these, B18L, a cationic amphiphilic α-helical peptidomimetic, was selected as the drug lead because it displayed superior anti-cancer activity against both drug-resistant and drug-sensitive cancer cells, with minimal toxicity on normal cells. Probing mechanism of action using molecular dynamics simulations, biochemical and membrane biophysics studies, we observed that B18L binds BST-2 and possesses membranolytic characteristics. Furthermore, molecular biology studies show that B18L dysregulates cancer signaling pathways resulting in decreased Src and Erk1/2 phosphorylation, increased expression of pro-apoptotic Bcl2 proteins, caspase 3 cleavage products, as well as processing of the caspase substrate, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1), to the characteristic apoptotic fragment. These data indicate that through the coordinated regulation of membrane, mitochondrial and signaling events, B18L executes cancer cell death and thus has the potential to be developed into a potent and selective anti-cancer compound.

scholarly journals Defining desirable natural product derived anticancer drug space: optimization of molecular physicochemical properties and ADMET attributes

ADMET & DMPK ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepika Singh
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Bond ◽  
Natural Products ◽  
Physicochemical Properties ◽  
Natural Product ◽  
Aqueous Solubility ◽  
Cancer Drug ◽  
Log P ◽  
Drug Candidates ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Property Space

<p class="ADMETabstracttext">As part of our endeavor to enhance survival of natural product derived drug candidates and to guide the medicinal chemist to design higher probability space for success in the anti cancer drug development area, we embarked on a detailed study of the property space for a collection of natural product derived anti cancer molecules. We carried out a comprehensive analysis of properties for 24 natural products derived anti cancer drugs including clinical development candidates and a set of 27 natural products derived anti cancer lead compounds. In particular, we focused on understanding the interplay among eight physicochemical properties including like partition coefficient (log P), distribution coefficient at pH=7.4 (log D), topological polar surface area (TPSA), molecular weight (MW), aqueous solubility (log S), number of hydrogen bond acceptors (HBA), number of hydrogen bond donors (HBD) and number of rotatable bonds (n<sub>Rot</sub>) crucial for drug design and  relationships between physicochemical properties, ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination) attributes, and in silico toxicity profile for these two sets of compounds. This analysis provides guidance for the chemist to modify the existing natural product scaffold or designing of new anti cancer molecules in a property space with increased probability of success and may lead to the identification of druglike candidates with favorable safety profiles that can successfully test hypotheses in the clinic.</p>

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