scholarly journals Comprehensive analysis of cutaneous and uveal melanoma liver metastases

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e001501
Author(s):  
Esmee P Hoefsmit ◽  
Elisa A Rozeman ◽  
Trieu My Van ◽  
Petros Dimitriadis ◽  
Oscar Krijgsman ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe profound disparity in response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) by cutaneous melanoma (CM) and uveal melanoma (UM) patients is not well understood. Therefore, we characterized metastases of CM and UM from the same metastatic site (liver), in order to dissect the potential underlying mechanism in differential response on ICB.MethodsTumor liver samples from CM (n=38) and UM (n=28) patients were analyzed at the genomic (whole exome sequencing), transcriptional (RNA sequencing) and protein (immunohistochemistry and GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiling) level.ResultsComparison of CM and UM metastases from the same metastatic site revealed that, although originating from the same melanocyte lineage, CM and UM differed in somatic mutation profile, copy number profile, tumor mutational burden (TMB) and consequently predicted neoantigens. A higher melanin content and higher expression of the melanoma differentiation antigen MelanA was observed in liver metastases of UM patients. No difference in B2M and human leukocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR) expression was observed. A higher expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) was found in CM compared with UM liver metastases, although the majority of CM and UM liver metastases lacked PD-L1 expression. There was no difference in the extent of immune infiltration observed between CM and UM metastases, with the exception of a higher expression of CD163 (p<0.0001) in CM liver samples. While the extent of immune infiltration was similar for CM and UM metastases, the ratio of exhausted CD8 T cells to cytotoxic T cells, to total CD8 T cells and to Th1 cells, was significantly higher in UM metastases.ConclusionsWhile TMB was different between CM and UM metastases, tumor immune infiltration was similar. The greater dependency on PD-L1 as an immune checkpoint in CM and the identification of higher exhaustion ratios in UM may both serve as explanations for the difference in response to ICB. Consequently, in order to improve current treatment for metastatic UM, reversal of T cell exhaustion beyond programmed cell death 1 blockade should be considered.

ESMO Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e000544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cinzia Solinas ◽  
Chunyan Gu-Trantien ◽  
Karen Willard-Gallo

Inducible T cell costimulator (ICOS, cluster of differentiation (CD278)) is an activating costimulatory immune checkpoint expressed on activated T cells. Its ligand, ICOSL is expressed on antigen-presenting cells and somatic cells, including tumour cells in the tumour microenvironment. ICOS and ICOSL expression is linked to the release of soluble factors (cytokines), induced by activation of the immune response. ICOS and ICOSL binding generates various activities among the diversity of T cell subpopulations, including T cell activation and effector functions and when sustained also suppressive activities mediated by regulatory T cells. This dual role in both antitumour and protumour activities makes targeting the ICOS/ICOSL pathway attractive for enhancement of antitumour immune responses. This review summarises the biological background and rationale for targeting ICOS/ICOSL in cancer together with an overview of the principal ongoing clinical trials that are testing it in combination with anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 and anti-programmed cell death-1 or anti-programmed cell death ligand-1 based immune checkpoint blockade.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (10) ◽  
pp. 845-857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blanca Homet Moreno ◽  
Jesse M. Zaretsky ◽  
Angel Garcia-Diaz ◽  
Jennifer Tsoi ◽  
Giulia Parisi ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Gao ◽  
Hui-Ting Liu ◽  
Yu-Qin Xu ◽  
Lin Zhang ◽  
Yuan-Ru Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hypopharyngeal cancer (HPC) is associated with a poor prognosis and a high recurrence rate. Immune escape is one of the reasons for the poor prognosis of malignant tumors. Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) have been shown to play important roles in immune escape. However, the role of PD-1/PD-L1 in HPC remains unclear. In this experiment, we investigated the effect of exosomes from HPC patient serum on CD8+ T cell function and PD-1/PD-L1 expression and, thus, on prognosis. We hope to provide guidance for the identification of new targets for HPC immunotherapy. Methods PD-1 and CD8 expression in 71 HPC tissues and 16 paracarcinoma tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. Concurrently, the clinicopathological data of the patients were obtained to conduct correlation analysis. Exosomes were isolated from serum and then identified by Western blotting (WB), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). Flow cytometry was used to assess the activity of CD8+ T cells after exosome stimulation. The effects of exosomes on the ability of CD8+ T cells to kill FaDu cells were assessed by CCK-8 assay. The expression of IL-10 and TGF-β1 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). PD-L1 expression in HPC tissue samples was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and the relationship between PD-1/PD-L1 expression and prognosis was investigated with patient specimens. Results PD-1 expression was significantly upregulated on CD8+ T cells in tumor tissues compared with those in normal tissues. The overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of PD-1-overexpressing patients were decreased. Serum exosomes from patients can elevate PD-1 expression on CD8+ T cells and suppress their killing capacity and secretory function. The rate of positive PD-L1 expression was increased in HPC tissues compared with paracancerous tissues. The DFS and OS of the PD-1(+)-PD-L1(+) group were significantly lower than those of the PD-1(−)-PD-L1(−) group. Conclusion Our findings indicate that serum exosomes from HPC patients can inhibit CD8+ T cell function and that the PD-1-PD-L1 pathway plays an important role in the immune escape of HPC. Exosomes combined with immunotherapy may guide the treatment of patients with advanced disease in the future.


Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinrui Zhao ◽  
Chunlin Shao

Radiotherapy (RT) is a conventional method for clinical treatment of local tumors, which can induce tumor-specific immune response and cause the shrinkage of primary tumor and distal metastases via mediating tumor infiltration of CD8+ T cells. Ionizing radiation (IR) induced tumor regression outside the radiation field is termed as abscopal effect. However, due to the mobilization of immunosuppressive signals by IR, the activated CD8+T cells are not sufficient to maintain a long-term positive feedback to make the tumors regress completely. Eventually, the “hot” tumors gradually turn to “cold”. With the advent of emerging immunotherapy, the combination of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and local RT has produced welcome changes in stubborn metastases, especially anti-PD-1/PD-L1 and anti-CTLA-4 which have been approved in clinical cancer treatment. However, the detailed mechanism of the abscopal effect induced by combined therapy is still unclear. Therefore, how to formulate a therapeutic schedule to maximize the efficacy should be took into consideration according to specific circumstance. This paper reviewed the recent research progresses in immunomodulatory effects of local radiotherapy on the tumor microenvironment, as well as the unique advantage for abscopal effect when combined with ICB, with a view to exploring the potential application value of radioimmunotherapy in clinic.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua M. Horne-Debets ◽  
Deshapriya S. Karunarathne ◽  
Rebecca J. Faleiro ◽  
Chek Meng Poh ◽  
Laurent Renia ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (45) ◽  
pp. e2105323118
Author(s):  
William W. Ho ◽  
Igor L. Gomes-Santos ◽  
Shuichi Aoki ◽  
Meenal Datta ◽  
Kosuke Kawaguchi ◽  
...  

Liver metastasis is a major cause of mortality for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Mismatch repair–proficient (pMMR) CRCs make up about 95% of metastatic CRCs, and are unresponsive to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. Here we show that mouse models of orthotopic pMMR CRC liver metastasis accurately recapitulate the inefficacy of ICB therapy in patients, whereas the same pMMR CRC tumors are sensitive to ICB therapy when grown subcutaneously. To reveal local, nonmalignant components that determine CRC sensitivity to treatment, we compared the microenvironments of pMMR CRC cells grown as liver metastases and subcutaneous tumors. We found a paucity of both activated T cells and dendritic cells in ICB-treated orthotopic liver metastases, when compared with their subcutaneous tumor counterparts. Furthermore, treatment with Feline McDonough sarcoma (FMS)-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L) plus ICB therapy increased dendritic cell infiltration into pMMR CRC liver metastases and improved mouse survival. Lastly, we show that human CRC liver metastases and microsatellite stable (MSS) primary CRC have a similar paucity of T cells and dendritic cells. These studies indicate that orthotopic tumor models, but not subcutaneous models, should be used to guide human clinical trials. Our findings also posit dendritic cells as antitumor components that can increase the efficacy of immunotherapies against pMMR CRC.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (S17) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernhard Roither ◽  
Chris Oostenbrink ◽  
Wolfgang Schreiner

Abstract Background The immune checkpoint receptor programmed cell death protein I (PD-1) has been identified as a key target in immunotherapy. PD-1 reduces the risk of autoimmunity by inducing apoptosis in antigen-specific T cells upon interaction with programmed cell death protein ligand I (PD-L1). Various cancer types overexpress PD-L1 to evade the immune system by inducing apoptosis in tumor-specific CD8+ T cells. The clinically used blocking antibody nivolumab binds to PD-1 and inhibits the immunosuppressive interaction with PD-L1. Even though PD-1 is already used as a drug target, the exact mechanism of the receptor is still a matter of debate. For instance, it is hypothesized that the signal transduction is based on an active conformation of PD-1. Results Here we present the results of the first molecular dynamics simulations of PD-1 with a complete extracellular domain with a focus on the role of the BC-loop of PD-1 upon binding PD-L1 or nivolumab. We could demonstrate that the BC-loop can form three conformations. Nivolumab binds to the BC-loop according to the conformational selection model whereas PD-L1 induces allosterically a conformational change of the BC-loop. Conclusion Due to the structural differences of the BC-loop, a signal transduction based on active conformation cannot be ruled out. These findings will have an impact on drug design and will help to refine immunotherapy blocking antibodies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (15) ◽  
pp. 5456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayumi Kuzume ◽  
SungGi Chi ◽  
Nobuhiko Yamauchi ◽  
Yosuke Minami

Tumor cells use immune-checkpoint pathways to evade the host immune system and suppress immune cell function. These cells express programmed cell-death protein 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1)/PD-L2, which bind to the programmed cell-death protein 1 (PD-1) present on cytotoxic T cells, trigger inhibitory signaling, and reduce cytotoxicity and T-cell exhaustion. Immune-checkpoint blockade can inhibit this signal and may serve as an effective therapeutic strategy in patients with solid tumors. Several trials have been conducted on immune-checkpoint inhibitor therapy in patients with malignant lymphoma and their efficacy has been reported. For example, in Hodgkin lymphoma, immune-checkpoint blockade has resulted in response rates of 65% to 75%. However, in non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the response rate to immune-checkpoint blockade was lower. In this review, we evaluate the biology of immune-checkpoint inhibition and the current data on its efficacy in malignant lymphoma, and identify the cases in which the treatment was more effective.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A683-A683
Author(s):  
Barbara Ma ◽  
Abhinav Jaiswal ◽  
K Sanjana Devi ◽  
Qingrong Huang ◽  
Joy Hsu ◽  
...  

BackgroundImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are limited by the high incidence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) occurring in up to 40% of solid tumor patients on anti-PD-1 monotherapy 1 2 and 72% in anti-CTLA-4/anti-PD-1 combination.3 4 These toxicities can cause treatment cessation, hospitalization and even death.5–7 IrAEs are variable in severity, timing, onset, and remain poorly understood. Amongst the different toxicities, skin irAEs are most frequent, occur the earliest, and are correlated with a positive prognosis.4 8 However, there is a lack of preclinical models to study checkpoint toxicity. We evaluated a murine model of allergic contact dermatitis (contact hypersensitivity to 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene) that is mediated by CD8+ T cells to gain a mechanistic understanding of skin checkpoint toxicity.MethodsC57BL/6 mice (n = 5 per group) were sensitized epicutaneously on shaved flank with hapten 0.5% DNFB on day -5 and elicited on their ears with DNFB on day 0. Starting four weeks later, mice were treated with either anti-programmed cell death protein (PD-1) or isotype. At the time of the first recall challenge only, mice were given either anti-PD-1 or isotype. Mice received subsequent rechallenges with DNFB to the ears and ear swelling was measured at various time points. Mice were depleted of circulating or skin CD8+ T cells by anti-CD8 mAbs from day 29 onwards, and maintained weekly, as in this model CD8+ T cells are the main hapten responder population. Samples were collected for histochemistry and analyzed by flow cytometry.ResultsOur data indicate that despite the depletion of circulating T cells, anti-PD-1 recipients mount a higher initial recall response to contact agents. Higher ear swelling was observed with increased inflammation in these mice. Our data suggest anti-PD-1 can liberate local T cell responses in the absence of a contribution from blood, and may offer a model to test therapeutic interventions to alleviate peripheral immune toxicities.ConclusionsOur results suggest that this murine model of contact hypersensitivity represents a potential model for skin immune checkpoint toxicities. This model of locally-mediated inflammatory recall may advance the goal of uncoupling toxicity from efficacy in patients with immune-related adverse events.Ethics ApprovalThe animal study was approved by Weill Cornell Medicine’s IACUC; approval number D16-00186.ReferencesNaidoo J, Page DB, Li BT, et al. Toxicities of the anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint antibodies. Ann Oncol 2015;26(12):2375–91. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdv383.Belum VR, Benhuri B, Postow MA, et al. Characterisation and management of dermatologic adverse events to agents targeting the PD-1 receptor. Eur J Cancer 2016;60:12–25. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2016.02.010.Postow MA, Sidlow R, Hellmann MD. Immune-Related Adverse Events Associated with Immune Checkpoint Blockade. N Engl J Med 2018;378(2):158–168. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra1703481.Martins F, Sofiya L, Sykiotis GP, et al. Adverse effects of immune-checkpoint inhibitors: epidemiology, management and surveillance. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2019;16(9):563–580. doi: 10.1038/s41571-019-0218-0.Puzanov I, Diab A, Abdallah K, et al. Managing toxicities associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: consensus recommendations from the society for immunotherapy of cancer (SITC) Toxicity Management Working Group. J Immunother Cancer 2017;5(1):95. doi: 10.1186/s40425-017-0300-z.Wills B, Brahmer JR, Naidoo J. Treatment of complications from immune checkpoint inhibition in patients with lung cancer. Curr Treat Options Oncol 2018;19(9):46. doi: 10.1007/s11864-018-0562-9.Michot JM, Bigenwald C, Champiat S, et al. Immune-related adverse events with immune checkpoint blockade: a comprehensive review. Eur J Cancer 2016;54:139–148. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2015.11.016.Phillips GS, Wu J, Hellmann MD, et al. Treatment outcomes of immune-related cutaneous adverse events. J Clin Oncol 2019:JCO1802141. doi: 10.1200/JCO.18.02141.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaohong Xie ◽  
Liqiang Wang ◽  
Yinyin Qin ◽  
Xinqing Lin ◽  
Zhanhong Xie ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: NUT midline carcinoma (NMC), a rare type of squamous cell carcinoma, is genetically characterised by NUT midline carcinoma family member 1 (NUTM1) gene rearrangement. NMC can arise from the lungs; however, there is no standard for the management of primary pulmonary NMC. This study aimed to confirm the clinical features and report the treatments, especially with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), and outcomes of patients with primary pulmonary NMC. Methods: A retrospective review of patients with primary pulmonary NMC was performed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University between January 2015 and December 2018. Clinical manifestations as well as radiographic and pathological findings were recorded. Whole-exome sequencing (WES), a predictor for ICI response, was used to determine the tumour mutational burden (TMB). Treatments, especially by immune checkpoint blockade, and patient survival were analysed.Results: Seven patients with primary pulmonary mass (four men and three women) with a mean age of 42 years (range, 23–74) who were diagnosed with NMC according to NUT immunohistochemistry staining were included for analysis. One patient had a rare fusion of CHRM5-NUTM1 by tumour sequencing. A wide range of TMB (1.75–73.81 mutations/Mbp) was observed. The initial treatments included chemotherapy (5/7, 71.4%), surgery (1/7, 14.3%), and radiotherapy (1/7, 14.3%). Five patients (5/7, 71.4%) received ICIs (programmed cell death protein 1 [PD1]/programmed cell death ligand 1 [PDL1] monoclonal antibody) as second- or higher-line treatments. The median overall survival (OS) was 4.1 months (range, 1.5–26.7 months). Conclusions: Patients with primary pulmonary NMC have a poor prognosis and chemotherapy is often preferred. Checkpoint immunotherapy is a good option as the second- or higher-line treatment. TMB seems to be not associated with OS.


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