scholarly journals Adaptive Antitumor Immune Response Stimulated by Bio-nanoparticle Based Vaccine and Checkpoint Blockade

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuewei Bai ◽  
Yanmei Zhou ◽  
Yuki Yokota ◽  
Yoshihiro Matsumoto ◽  
Bo Zhai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Adaptive Immune Response ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Lymphoid Structures

Abstract Background: Interactions between tumor and microenvironment determines the response to immunotherapy. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have exhibited suboptimal responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Aspartate beta-hydroxylase (ASPH), an oncofetal protein and tumor associated antigen (TAA), is a potential target for immunotherapy. Methods: Orthotopic TNBC and subcutaneous HCC murine models were established. Immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, ELISA and in vitro cytotoxicity assays were performed. Results: The ASPH-MYC signaling cascade upregulates PD-L1 expression on breast and liver tumor cells. A bio-nanoparticle based vaccine targeting ASPH was administrated to BALB/c mice harboring syngeneic HCC or TNBC tumors, either alone or in combination with PD-1 blockade. In the control group, autocrine CXCL13-CXCR5 axis promoted cancer development and progression. Inhibition between PD-L1+ cancer cells and PD-1+ T cells resulted in T cell exhaustion and apoptosis. In contrast, combination therapy significantly suppressed primary hepatic or mammary tumor growth with distant pulmonary metastases in TNBC. An adaptive immune response was attributed to expansion of activated CD4+ Th1/CD8+ CTLs with enhanced effector function and high titers of ASPH-specific antibody. When the PD-1/PD-L1 signal was inhibited, CXCL13 produced by ASPH+ cancer cells recruited CXCR5+/CD8+ T lymphocytes to tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs), which secreted CXCL13 to recruit more CXCR5+ immune cells and to lyse CXCR5+ cancer cells. Upon combination treatment, the presence of TLSs predicts sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibitor blockade. Conclusions: Synergistic antitumor efficacy attributable to a λ phage vaccine specifically targeting ASPH combined with an immune checkpoint inhibitor represents a new approach for TNBC and HCC.

scholarly journals Nanoparticle delivery of immunostimulatory oligonucleotides enhances response to checkpoint inhibitor therapeutics

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (24) ◽  
pp. 13428-13436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin G. Buss ◽  
Sangeeta N. Bhatia
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Engineered Nanoparticles ◽  
Therapeutic Effects

The recent advent of immune checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) antibodies has revolutionized many aspects of cancer therapy, but the efficacy of these breakthrough therapeutics remains limited, as many patients fail to respond for reasons that still largely evade understanding. An array of studies in human patients and animal models has demonstrated that local signaling can generate strongly immunosuppressive microenvironments within tumors, and emerging evidence suggests that delivery of immunostimulatory molecules into tumors can have therapeutic effects. Nanoparticle formulations of these cargoes offer a promising way to maximize their delivery and to enhance the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors. We developed a modular nanoparticle system capable of encapsulating an array of immunostimulatory oligonucleotides that, in some cases, greatly increase their potency to activate inflammatory signaling within immune cells in vitro. We hypothesized that these immunostimulatory nanoparticles could suppress tumor growth by activating similar signaling in vivo, and thereby also improve responsiveness to immune checkpoint inhibitor antibody therapies. We found that our engineered nanoparticles carrying a CpG DNA ligand of TLR9 can suppress tumor growth in several animal models of various cancers, resulting in an abscopal effect on distant tumors, and improving responsiveness to anti-CTLA4 treatment with combinatorial effects after intratumoral administration. Moreover, by incorporating tumor-homing peptides, immunostimulatory nucleotide-bearing nanoparticles facilitate antitumor efficacy after systemic intravenous (i.v.) administration.

The emerging use of immune checkpoint blockade in the adjuvant setting for solid tumors: a review

Immunotherapy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (16) ◽  
pp. 1409-1422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elissar Moujaess ◽  
Fady Gh Haddad ◽  
Roland Eid ◽  
Hampig Raphael Kourie
Keyword(s):  
Solid Tumors ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Blockade ◽  
Adjuvant Setting ◽  
Lung Cancers ◽  
Metastatic Setting ◽  
Postoperative Setting

The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors has been approved in the advanced and metastatic setting for many types of solid tumors. Nonetheless, their role in the adjuvant setting is limited to the treatment of surgically resected melanoma. Ipilimumab was the first immune checkpoint inhibitor approved for this indication, followed by nivolumab and pembrolizumab. Many ongoing trials are evaluating these molecules in the postoperative setting, alone or in combination with other therapies. Preliminary results are promising regarding the treatment of other cutaneous tumors, lung cancers, head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, bladder cancer and renal cell carcinomas. Some data assessing their use for the adjuvant treatment of esophageal, colorectal, ovarian cancer and other solid tumors are similarly emerging.

scholarly journals Enterococcus peptidoglycan remodeling promotes immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew E. Griffin ◽  
Juliel Espinosa ◽  
Jessica L. Becker ◽  
Jyoti K. Jha ◽  
Gary R. Fanger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antitumor Activity ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Mouse Tumor ◽  
Peptidoglycan Hydrolases ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy ◽  
Specific Species

AbstractThe antitumor efficacy of cancer immunotherapy has been correlated with specific species within the gut microbiota. However, molecular mechanisms by which these microbes affect host response to immunotherapy remain elusive. Here we show that specific members of the bacterial genus Enterococcus can promote anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy in mouse tumor models. The active enterococci express and secrete orthologs of the NlpC/p60 peptidoglycan hydrolase SagA that generate immune-active muropeptides. Expression of SagA in non-protective E. faecalis was sufficient to promote antitumor activity of clinically approved checkpoint targets, and its activity required the peptidoglycan sensor Nod2. Notably, SagA-engineered probiotics or synthetic muropeptides also promoted checkpoint inhibitor antitumor activity. Our data suggest that microbiota species with unique peptidoglycan remodeling activity may enhance immunotherapy and could be leveraged for next-generation adjuvants.One Sentence SummaryA conserved family of secreted NlpC/p60 peptidoglycan hydrolases from Enterococcus promote antitumor activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors.

scholarly journals Application of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in the Treatment of Cholangiocarcinoma

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 153303382110399
Author(s):  
Fan-li Zeng ◽  
Jing-fang Chen
Keyword(s):  
Solid Tumors ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Malignant Tumors ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
General Term ◽  
Distal Cholangiocarcinoma ◽  
Poor Outcomes ◽  
Defective Mismatch Repair

Cholangiocarcinoma is a general term for intrahepatic and extrahepatic malignant tumors deriving in the biliary system. According to the location, it is divided into intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, hilar cholangiocarcinoma, and distal cholangiocarcinoma. Progressive cholangiocarcinoma yields poor outcomes with radiotherapy; therefore, there is an urgent need for new therapeutic breakthroughs. Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy brings the treatment for cancer into a new field, with the use of drugs targeting PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 considerably extending the survival of patients with melanoma, lung cancer, and other solid tumors. The FDA has approved the application of pembrolizumab for solid tumors with high microsatellite instability and defective mismatch repair, including cholangiocarcinoma. Moreover, the combination of ICIs with chemotherapy and radiation therapy showed good promise. The aim of the present study was to review the application of ICIs in the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma and to summarize the reported individualized immunotherapy-based protocols and ongoing clinical trials for clinical reference.

Efficacy of immunotherapy in hepatocholangiocarcinoma (HCC-CC): Proof of concept.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e16194-e16194
Author(s):  
Osama Diab ◽  
Maloree Khan ◽  
Saqib Abbasi ◽  
Anwaar Saeed ◽  
Anup Kasi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Line Treatment ◽  
First Line ◽  
Liver Cancers ◽  
First Line Treatment

e16194 Background: Hepatocholangiocarcinoma (HCC-CC) is a rare form of cancer with a poor prognosis. Of all primary liver cancers, the incidence of HCC-CC ranges from 0.4 to 14.2%. HCC-CC is a mixed carcinoma with findings of both hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are a potent first line treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma with multiple clinical trial showing effectiveness in cholangiocarcinoma. HCC-CC has limited proven treatment options as patients are generally excluded from clinical trials. In this study we reviewed outcomes of patients with HCC-CC who received immune checkpoint inhibitor in a single center. Methods: Records of patients who had a pathological confirmed HCC-CC by a subspecialized hepatic pathologist at the University of Kansas medical center were reviewed. We identified 6 patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HCC-CC that received immune checkpoint inhibitor between February 2017 and January 2021. Baseline characteristics were obtained, as well as best response, line of therapy, and duration of response. Results: Of the six patients 4 (66%) received PD-1 inhibitor alone and 2 (34%) received combination therapy with CTLA-4 inhibitor for the treatment of HCC-CC. There were 3 (50%) females and 6 (100%) with prior hepatitis C infection. four (66%) patients had metastatic disease and 2 had locally unresectable advanced disease. Objective response rate was 83.3%. One patient achieved complete response and had a treatment holiday after receiving treatment for 2 years, and restarted immunotherapy upon relapse. Four patients had a partial response, of which two passed away after disease progression. One patient had stable disease on 2 different lines of immunotherapy then progressed. Of those who responded, one patient received immunotherapy, 3 (50%) received liver directed therapy and two received chemotherapy or Lenvatinib as first line treatment (Table). Conclusions: Immune checkpoint inhibitors demonstrate potential activity in patients with HCC-CC without unexpected side effect in this unmet need high-risk population. Larger studies are needed to confirm activity and efficacy in this setting.[Table: see text]

Immune checkpoint inhibitor sensitivity of DNA repair deficient tumors

Immunotherapy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 1205-1213
Author(s):  
Pauline Rochefort ◽  
Françoise Desseigne ◽  
Valérie Bonadona ◽  
Sophie Dussart ◽  
Clélia Coutzac ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Dna Repair ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Genome Stability ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Excision Repair ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Repair Deficiency ◽  
Dna Repair Deficiency

Faithful DNA replication is necessary to maintain genome stability and implicates a complex network with several pathways depending on DNA damage type: homologous repair, nonhomologous end joining, base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair and mismatch repair. Alteration in components of DNA repair machinery led to DNA damage accumulation and potentially carcinogenesis. Preclinical data suggest sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibitors in tumors with DNA repair deficiency. Here, we review clinical studies that explored the use of immune checkpoint inhibitor in patient harboring tumor with DNA repair deficiency.

Venous thromboembolism events in patients with advanced cancer on immune checkpoint inhibitors

Immunotherapy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adi Kartolo ◽  
Cynthia Yeung ◽  
Gordon T Moffat ◽  
Lilian Hanna ◽  
Wilma Hopman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Venous Thromboembolism ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Single Agent ◽  
Cancer Management ◽  
Thromboembolism Events

Aim: To evaluate the correlation between venous thromboembolism events (VTEs) and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based regimens. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 403 patients with advanced cancer on ICI-based regimens. Results: We report 8% VTE incidence post-ICI initiation over a median of 11.1 months of follow-up. Compared with single-agent ICI, dual-ICI was significantly correlated with higher incidence of VTE (odds ratio [OR]: 4.196, 95% CI: 1.527–11.529, p = 0.005), but chemotherapy–immuno-oncology combination was not (OR: 1.374, 95% CI: 0.285–6.632, p = 0.693). Subsequent systemic therapy post-ICI was also independently associated with higher VTE incidence (OR: 2.599, 95% CI: 1.169–5.777, p = 0.019). Conclusion: Our findings suggest potential underreporting of VTE incidence in ICI clinical trials. As dual-ICI is becoming more prevalent in cancer management, clinicians should maintain vigilance regarding VTE in patients with advanced cancer on ICI-based regimens.

Peritoneal melanosis associated with metastatic melanoma previously treated with targeted and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. e238235
Author(s):  
Kwang Kiat Sim ◽  
Katie Connell ◽  
Mayank Bhandari ◽  
David Paton
Keyword(s):  
Metastatic Melanoma ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Inhibitor Therapy ◽  
Tumour Regression ◽  
Benign Condition ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy ◽  
Previously Treated

Peritoneal melanosis is an uncommon benign condition, the pathophysiology of which is unclear. Macroscopically, it appears as diffuse dark brown or black pigmentation within the peritoneum, mimicking more sinister conditions such as metastatic melanoma. It has been described in a variety of contexts, but only exceedingly rarely in association with metastatic melanoma, with only two previous published case reports. We present a case of peritoneal melanosis associated with metastatic melanoma involving the spleen, previously treated with targeted and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. With increasing reports of melanoma regression manifesting as cutaneous tumorous melanosis in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors, we postulate that, similarly, immunotherapy and tumour regression might have a role to play in the pathogenesis of the peritoneal pigmentation in this case.

scholarly journals Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy in Patients With Preexisting Inflammatory Bowel Disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 576-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamzah Abu-Sbeih ◽  
David M. Faleck ◽  
Biagio Ricciuti ◽  
Robin B. Mendelsohn ◽  
Abdul R. Naqash ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
T Lymphocyte ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Inhibitor Therapy ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy ◽  
Inflammatory Bowel

PURPOSE The risk of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy–related GI adverse events in patients with cancer and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not been well described. We characterized GI adverse events in patients with underlying IBD who received immune checkpoint inhibitors. PATIENTS AND METHODS We performed a multicenter, retrospective study of patients with documented IBD who received immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy between January 2010 and February 2019. Backward selection and multivariate logistic regression were conducted to assess risk of GI adverse events. RESULTS Of the 102 included patients, 17 received therapy targeting cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4, and 85 received monotherapy targeting programmed cell death 1 or its ligand. Half of the patients had Crohn’s disease, and half had ulcerative colitis. The median time from last active IBD episode to immunotherapy initiation was 5 years (interquartile range, 3-12 years). Forty-three patients were not receiving treatment of IBD. GI adverse events occurred in 42 patients (41%) after a median of 62 days (interquartile range, 33-123 days), a rate higher than that among similar patients without underlying IBD who were treated at centers participating in the study (11%; P < .001). GI events among patients with IBD included grade 3 or 4 diarrhea in 21 patients (21%). Four patients experienced colonic perforation, 2 of whom required surgery. No GI adverse event–related deaths were recorded. Anti–cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 therapy was associated with increased risk of GI adverse events on univariable but not multivariable analysis (odds ratio, 3.19; 95% CI, 1.8 to 9.48; P = .037; and odds ratio, 4.72; 95% CI, 0.95 to 23.53; P = .058, respectively). CONCLUSION Preexisting IBD increases the risk of severe GI adverse events in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

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