Potential alteration of tumor microenvironments by β-mercaptoethanol

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert E Click
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Tumor Antigens ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Suppressor Cells ◽  
Low Molecular Weight ◽  
Uptake Inhibition ◽  
Tumor Microenvironments

The therapeutic effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer patients is quite profound. However, it is generally accepted that further progress is curtailed by accompanying adverse events and by low cure rates linked to the tumor microenvironment. The multitudes of immune processes altered by low-molecular-weight thiols published over the past decades suggest they have potential to alter tumor microenvironment processes which could result in an increase in immune checkpoint inhibitor survival rates. Based on one of the most studied and most potent low-molecular-weight thiols, β-mercaptoethanol (BME), it is proposed that clinical assessment be undertaken to identify any BME benefits with relevance for proliferation/differentiation of immune cells, lymphocyte exhaustion, immunogenicity of tumor antigens and inactivation of suppressor cells/factors. The BME alterations projected to be most effective are: maintenance/replacement of glutathione in lymphocytes via facilitation of cysteine uptake, inhibition of suppressor cells/soluble factors and inactivation of free-radical, reactive oxygen species.

scholarly journals Mechanisms of the Antitumor Activity of Low Molecular Weight Heparins in Pancreatic Adenocarcinomas

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandros Bokas ◽  
Pavlos Papakotoulas ◽  
Panagiotis Sarantis ◽  
Adriana Papadimitropoulou ◽  
Athanasios G Papavassiliou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Combined Treatment ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Low Molecular Weight ◽  
Low Molecular Weight Heparins ◽  
Treatment And Prevention

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer treatment in the last decade. Despite the progress in immunotherapy, most pancreatic cancer patients still do not derive benefit when receiving immune-based therapies. Recently, resistance mechanisms to immune therapies have been mainly focused on tumor microenvironment properties. Pancreatic cancer is considered one of the most lethal and difficult to treat tumors due to its highly immunosuppressive and desmoplastic microenvironment. Low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) have been used for the treatment and prevention of thromboembolic disease in these patients. However, many nonanticoagulant properties attributed to LMWHs have been described. Exploiting LMWH properties in a combined treatment modality with immune checkpoint inhibition and chemotherapy could provide a new approach in the management of pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients. The ability of LMWH to interfere with various aspects of the tumor microenvironment could result in both the alleviation of immunosuppression and improvement in drug delivery within the tumor, leading to higher cancer cell destruction rates and more potent immune system activity that would, ultimately, lead to better patient outcomes.

scholarly journals Therapeutic Implications of Tumor Microenvironment in Lung Cancer: Focus on Immune Checkpoint Blockade

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Genova ◽  
Chiara Dellepiane ◽  
Paolo Carrega ◽  
Sara Sommariva ◽  
Guido Ferlazzo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Suppressor Cells ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Blockade ◽  
Therapeutic Implications ◽  
Investigational Agents

In the last decade, the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been revolutionized by the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) directed against programmed death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1), or cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4). In spite of these improvements, some patients do not achieve any benefit from ICI, and inevitably develop resistance to therapy over time. Tumor microenvironment (TME) might influence response to immunotherapy due to its prominent role in the multiple interactions between neoplastic cells and the immune system. Studies investigating lung cancer from the perspective of TME pointed out a complex scenario where tumor angiogenesis, soluble factors, immune suppressive/regulatory elements and cells composing TME itself participate to tumor growth. In this review, we point out the current state of knowledge involving the relationship between tumor cells and the components of TME in NSCLC as well as their interactions with immunotherapy providing an update on novel predictors of benefit from currently employed ICI or new therapeutic targets of investigational agents. In first place, increasing evidence suggests that TME might represent a promising biomarker of sensitivity to ICI, based on the presence of immune-modulating cells, such as Treg, myeloid derived suppressor cells, and tumor associated macrophages, which are known to induce an immunosuppressive environment, poorly responsive to ICI. Consequently, multiple clinical studies have been designed to influence TME towards a pro-immunogenic state and subsequently improve the activity of ICI. Currently, the mostly employed approach relies on the association of “classic” ICI targeting PD-1/PD-L1 and novel agents directed on molecules, such as LAG-3 and TIM-3. To date, some trials have already shown promising results, while a multitude of prospective studies are ongoing, and their results might significantly influence the future approach to cancer immunotherapy.

EXTRATUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT IN RENAL CELL CARCINOMA

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 5-12
Author(s):  
Mirzagaleb Tillyashaykhov ◽  
◽  
Elena Boyko ◽  
Shakhnoza Jumaniyazova
Keyword(s):  
Renal Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Renal Cell ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Immune Surveillance ◽  
Suppressor Cells ◽  
Animal Tumor

The review is focused on studying the immunosuppressive mechanisms acting in the microenvironment of renal cell carcinoma tumors. The report contains a collection of basic literature materials on the study of tumor growth factors that boost tumor cell proliferation and metastasis. The tumor microenvironment (TME) limits the immune surveillance of tumor-associated antigens and the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Although renal cell carcinoma is one of several tumor types sensitive to immune checkpoint inhibitors, the efficacy of these agents is likely to be limited by different tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells of bone marrow that make up the TME. Several strategies aimed at eliminating the onset of these cells in tumor tissue or neutralizing their immunosuppressive function have shown encouraging results in animal tumor models and clinical trials.Keywords: cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI), tumor microenvironment (MEV), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), regulatory T cells (Tregs), renal cell carcinoma (RCC), tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)

scholarly journals Nanoparticles Targeting Innate Immune Cells in Tumor Microenvironment

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (18) ◽  
pp. 10009
Author(s):  
Hochung Jang ◽  
Eun Hye Kim ◽  
Sung-Gil Chi ◽  
Sun Hwa Kim ◽  
Yoosoo Yang
Keyword(s):  
Dendritic Cells ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Suppressor Cells ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Innate Immune Cells ◽  
Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells ◽  
Tumor Microenvironments ◽  
Clinical Benefits

A variety of innate immune cells such as macrophages, dendritic cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, natural killer cells, and neutrophils in the tumor microenvironments, contribute to tumor progression. However, while several recent reports have studied the use of immune checkpoint-based cancer immunotherapy, little work has focused on modulating the innate immune cells. This review focuses on the recent studies and challenges of using nanoparticles to target innate immune cells. In particular, we also examine the immunosuppressive properties of certain innate immune cells that limit clinical benefits. Understanding the cross-talk between tumors and innate immune cells could contribute to the development of strategies for manipulating the nanoparticles targeting tumor microenvironments.

scholarly journals Ipilimumab and nivolumab/pembrolizumab in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma refractory to prior immune checkpoint inhibitors

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. e001945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Sum Lung Wong ◽  
Gerry Gin Wai Kwok ◽  
Vikki Tang ◽  
Bryan Cho Wing Li ◽  
Roland Leung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Objective Response ◽  
Acquired Resistance ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Primary Resistance ◽  
Advanced Hcc

BackgroundProgrammed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) pathway blockade with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is a standard therapy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) nowadays. No strategies to overcome ICI resistance have been described. We aimed to evaluate the use of ipilimumab and anti-PD-1 ICIs (nivolumab or pembrolizumab) combinations in patients with advanced HCC with progression on prior ICIs.MethodsPatients with advanced HCC with documented tumor progression on prior ICIs and subsequently received ipilimumab with nivolumab/pembrolizumab were analyzed. Objective response rate (ORR), median duration of response (DOR), time-to-progression (TTP), overall survival (OS), and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were assessed.ResultsTwenty-five patients were included. The median age was 62 (range: 51–83). About 68% were of Child-Pugh (CP) Grade A and 48% had primary resistance to prior ICI. At median follow-up of 37.7 months, the ORR was 16% with a median DOR of 11.5 months (range: 2.76–30.3). Three patients achieved complete response. The median TTP was 2.96 months (95% CI: 1.61 to 4.31). Median OS was 10.9 months (95% CI: 3.99 to 17.8) and the 1 year, 2 year and 3 year survival rates were 42.4%, 32.3% and 21.6%, respectively. The ORR was 16.7% in primary resistance group and 15.4% in acquired resistance group (p=1.00). All responders were of CP A and Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) Grade 1 or 2. CP and ALBI Grades were significantly associated with OS (p=0.006 and p<0.001, respectively). Overall, 52% of patients experienced TRAEs and 12% experienced Grade 3 or above TRAEs.ConclusionsIpilimumab and nivolumab/pembrolizumab can achieve durable antitumor activity and encouraging survival outcomes with acceptable toxicity in patients with advanced HCC who had prior treatment with ICIs.

scholarly journals Enhance the Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Efficacy with Radiotherapy Induced Immunogenic Cell Death: A Comprehensive Review and Latest Developments

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrien Procureur ◽  
Audrey Simonaggio ◽  
Jean-Emmanuel Bibault ◽  
Stéphane Oudard ◽  
Yann-Alexandre Vano
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Tumor Antigens ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Mitotic Cell ◽  
Immunogenic Cell Death ◽  
Dna Damages ◽  
Multiple Tumor ◽  
Tumor Types

The immunogenic cell death (ICD) is defined as a regulated cell death able to induce an adaptive immunity. It depends on different parameters including sufficient antigenicity, adjuvanticity and favorable microenvironment conditions. Radiation therapy (RT), a pillar of modern cancer treatment, is being used in many tumor types in curative, (neo) adjuvant, as well as metastatic settings. The anti-tumor effects of RT have been traditionally attributed to the mitotic cell death resulting from the DNA damages triggered by the release of reactive oxygen species. Recent evidence suggests that RT may also exert its anti-tumor effect by recruiting tumor-specific immunity. RT is able to induce the release of tumor antigens, to act as an immune adjuvant and thus to synergize with the anti-tumor immunity. The advent of new efficient immunotherapeutic agents, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), in multiple tumor types sheds new light on the opportunity of combining RT and ICI. Here, we will describe the biological and radiobiological rationale of the RT-induced ICD. We will then focus on the interest to combine RT and ICI, from bench to bedside, and summarize the clinical data existing with this combination. Finally, RT technical adaptations to optimize the ICD induction will be discussed.

scholarly journals Emerging Trends for Radio-Immunotherapy in Rectal Cancer

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1374
Author(s):  
Claudia Corrò ◽  
Valérie Dutoit ◽  
Thibaud Koessler
Keyword(s):  
Rectal Cancer ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Predictive Biomarkers ◽  
Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes ◽  
T Cell Infiltration ◽  
Emerging Trends ◽  
Tumor Mutational Burden ◽  
Microsatellite Stability

Rectal cancer is a heterogeneous disease at the genetic and molecular levels, both aspects having major repercussions on the tumor immune contexture. Whilst microsatellite status and tumor mutational load have been associated with response to immunotherapy, presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes is one of the most powerful prognostic and predictive biomarkers. Yet, the majority of rectal cancers are characterized by microsatellite stability, low tumor mutational burden and poor T cell infiltration. Consequently, these tumors do not respond to immunotherapy and treatment largely relies on radiotherapy alone or in combination with chemotherapy followed by radical surgery. Importantly, pre-clinical and clinical studies suggest that radiotherapy can induce a complete reprograming of the tumor microenvironment, potentially sensitizing it for immune checkpoint inhibition. Nonetheless, growing evidence suggest that this synergistic effect strongly depends on radiotherapy dosing, fractionation and timing. Despite ongoing work, information about the radiotherapy regimen required to yield optimal clinical outcome when combined to checkpoint blockade remains largely unavailable. In this review, we describe the molecular and immune heterogeneity of rectal cancer and outline its prognostic value. In addition, we discuss the effect of radiotherapy on the tumor microenvironment, focusing on the mechanisms and benefits of its combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

scholarly journals Is There a Place for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Vulvar Neoplasms? A State of the Art Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 190
Author(s):  
Fulvio Borella ◽  
Mario Preti ◽  
Luca Bertero ◽  
Giammarco Collemi ◽  
Isabella Castellano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Younger Women ◽  
Multiple Tumor ◽  
Tumor Types

Vulvar cancer (VC) is a rare neoplasm, usually arising in postmenopausal women, although human papilloma virus (HPV)-associated VC usually develop in younger women. Incidences of VCs are rising in many countries. Surgery is the cornerstone of early-stage VC management, whereas therapies for advanced VC are multimodal and not standardized, combining chemotherapy and radiotherapy to avoid exenterative surgery. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are scarce due to the rarity of the disease and prognosis has not improved. Hence, new therapies are needed to improve the outcomes of these patients. In recent years, improved knowledge regarding the crosstalk between neoplastic and tumor cells has allowed researchers to develop a novel therapeutic approach exploiting these molecular interactions. Both the innate and adaptive immune systems play a key role in anti-tumor immunesurveillance. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated efficacy in multiple tumor types, improving survival rates and disease outcomes. In some gynecologic cancers (e.g., cervical cancer), many studies are showing promising results and a growing interest is emerging about the potential use of ICIs in VC. The aim of this manuscript is to summarize the latest developments in the field of VC immunoncology, to present the role of state-of-the-art ICIs in VC management and to discuss new potential immunotherapeutic approaches.

Impact of Use of Antibiotics on Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Tumor Microenvironment

2021 ◽  
Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽  
Author(s):  
Uqba Khan ◽  
Kaylee Ho ◽  
Eun Kyeong Hwang ◽  
Cristian Peña ◽  
Julianna Brouwer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors

scholarly journals Immune and Inflammatory Cells of the Tumor Microenvironment Represent Novel Therapeutic Targets in Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (21) ◽  
pp. 5503 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleonora Calabretta ◽  
Francesco d’Amore ◽  
Carmelo Carlo-Stella
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Hodgkin Lymphoma ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Therapeutic Targets ◽  
Suppressor Cells ◽  
Inflammatory Cells ◽  
Brentuximab Vedotin ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma ◽  
Relevant Role

Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL) is a B-cell malignancy that, typically, responds well to standard therapies. However, patients who relapse after standard regimens or are refractory to induction therapy have a dismal outcome. The implementation of novel therapies such as the anti-CD30 monoclonal antibody Brentuximab Vedotin and immune checkpoint inhibitors has provided curative options for many of these patients. Nonetheless, responses are rarely durable, emphasizing the need for new agents. cHL is characterized by a unique microenvironment in which cellular and humoral components interact to promote tumor survival and dissemination. Knowledge of the complex composition of cHL microenvironment is constantly evolving; in particular, there is growing interest in certain cell subsets such as tumor-associated macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells and neutrophils, all of which have a relevant role in the pathogenesis of the disease. The unique biology of the cHL microenvironment has provided opportunities to develop new drugs, many of which are currently being tested in preclinical and clinical settings. In this review, we will summarize novel insights in the crosstalk between tumor cells and non-malignant inflammatory cells. In addition, we will discuss the relevance of tumor-microenvironment interactions as potential therapeutic targets.

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