scholarly journals Vaccines against Human Carcinomas: Strategies to Improve Antitumor Immune Responses

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Palena ◽  
Jeffrey Schlom

Multiple observations in preclinical and clinical studies support a role for the immune system in controlling tumor growth and progression. Various components of the innate and adaptive immune response are able to mediate tumor cell destruction; however, certain immune cell populations can also induce a protumor environment that favors tumor growth and the development of metastasis. Moreover, tumor cells themselves are equipped with various mechanisms that allow them to evade surveillance by the immune system. The goal of cancer vaccines is to induce a tumor-specific immune response that ultimately will reduce tumor burden by tipping the balance from a protumor to an antitumor immune environment. This review discusses common mechanisms that govern immune cell activation and tumor immune escape, and some of the current strategies employed in the field of cancer vaccines aimed at enhancing activation of tumor-specific T-cells with concurrent reduction of immunosuppression.

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 2970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loredana Albonici ◽  
Maria Gabriella Giganti ◽  
Andrea Modesti ◽  
Vittorio Manzari ◽  
Roberto Bei

The sharing of molecules function that affects both tumor growth and neoangiogenesis with cells of the immune system creates a mutual interplay that impairs the host’s immune response against tumor progression. Increasing evidence shows that tumors are able to create an immunosuppressive microenvironment by recruiting specific immune cells. Moreover, molecules produced by tumor and inflammatory cells in the tumor microenvironment create an immunosuppressive milieu able to inhibit the development of an efficient immune response against cancer cells and thus fostering tumor growth and progression. In addition, the immunoediting could select cancer cells that are less immunogenic or more resistant to lysis. In this review, we summarize recent findings regarding the immunomodulatory effects and cancer progression of the angiogenic growth factor namely placental growth factor (PlGF) and address the biological complex effects of this cytokine. Different pathways of the innate and adaptive immune response in which, directly or indirectly, PlGF is involved in promoting tumor immune escape and metastasis will be described. PlGF is important for building up vascular structures and functions. Although PlGF effects on vascular and tumor growth have been widely summarized, its functions in modulating the immune intra-tumoral microenvironment have been less highlighted. In agreement with PlGF functions, different antitumor strategies can be envisioned.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentin Baloche ◽  
Julie Rivière ◽  
Thi Bao Tram Tran ◽  
Aurore Gelin ◽  
Olivia Bawa ◽  
...  

AbstractMechanisms of tumor immune escape are quite diverse and require specific approaches for their exploration in syngeneic tumor models. In several human malignancies, galectin-9 (gal-9) is suspected to contribute to the immune escape. However, in contrast with what has been done for the infiltrating cells, the contribution of gal-9 produced by malignant cells has never been demonstrated in an animal model. Therefore, we derived isogenic clones—either positive or negative for gal-9—from the MB49 murine bladder carcinoma cell line. A progressive and consistent reduction of tumor growth was observed when gal-9-KO cells were subjected to serial transplantations into syngeneic mice. In contrast, tumor growth was unaffected during parallel serial transplantations into nude mice, thus linking tumor inhibition to the enhancement of the immune response against gal-9-KO tumors. This stronger immune response was at least in part explained by changing patterns of response to interferon-γ. One consistent change was a more abundant production of CXCL10, a major inflammatory factor whose production is often induced by interferon-γ. Overall, these observations demonstrate for the first time that serial transplantation into syngeneic mice can be a valuable experimental approach for the exploration of novel mechanisms of tumor immune escape.


2017 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 408-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. V. Sokolova ◽  
M. V. Konopleva ◽  
Т. A. Semenenko ◽  
V. G. Akimkin ◽  
A. V. Tutelyan ◽  
...  

The high prevalence of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) in population occurs mainly due to numerous mechanisms formed in the process of the virus evolution, contributing to its survival under immunological pressure. The review presents the most complete systematization and classification of various HBV protective mechanisms basing on their influence on different parts of congenital and adaptive immune response. The analysis of literature data allows for the conclusion that two basic principles underlie the mechanisms: the strategy of the «stealth virus» (virus’s escape from recognition by the immune system) and strategy of immunosuppression. The stealth virus strategy is performed as follows: special strategy of the HBV replication which prevents the recognition by the receptors of congenital immune system; occurrence of the vaccine escape mutants; isolation of the virus in host cells and tissues providing its inaccessibility to T-cells along with hyperproduction of subviral particles as traps for specific antibodies. The core principle of the immunosuppression implemented in hepatitis B therapy is based on the phenomenon of the viral apoptotic mimicry. The result of this interaction strategy is dysfunction of NK and NKT-cells, inactivation of dendritic cell functions, and suppression of the adaptive immune response. The review demonstrates that interaction between HBV and the immune system of the macro organism is in some kind of «dynamic equilibrium» depending on numerous factors. Specific molecular targets of the viral impact are described. We propose to expand the research on the influence of the host’s genetic factors on the development of congenital and adaptive immune response against HBV, especially during the real infectious process which results in the improvement of approaches to the therapy by developing personalized treatment methods.


2005 ◽  
Vol 201 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge E. Galán

Microorganisms that cause persistent infection often exhibit specific adaptations that allow them to avoid the adaptive immune response. Recently, several bacterial toxins have been shown in vitro to disrupt immune cell functions. However, it remains to be established whether these activities are relevant during infection and whether these toxins have specifically evolved to disrupt the adaptive immune system.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ching-Lien Wu ◽  
Julien Caumartin ◽  
Giada Amodio ◽  
François Anna ◽  
Maria Loustau ◽  
...  

Invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells are a small and distinct population of T cells crucial in immunomodulation. After activation by alpha-GalactosylCeramide (αGC), an exogenic glycolipid antigen, iNKT cells can rapidly release cytokines to enhance specific anti-tumor activity. Several human clinical trials on iNKT cell-based anti-cancer are ongoing, however results are not as striking as in murine models. Given that iNKT-based immunotherapies are dependent mainly on antigen-presenting cells (APC), a human tolerogenic molecule with no murine homolog, such as Human Leucocyte Antigen G (HLA-G), could contribute to this discrepancy. HLA-G is a well-known immune checkpoint molecule involved in fetal-maternal tolerance and in tumor immune escape. HLA-G exerts its immunomodulatory functions through the interaction with immune inhibitory receptors such as ILT2, differentially expressed on immune cell subsets. We hypothesized that HLA-G might inhibit iNKT function directly or by inducing tolerogenic APC leading to iNKT cell anergy, which could impact the results of current clinical trials. Using an ILT2-transduced murine iNKT cell line and human iNKT cells, we demonstrate that iNKT cells are sensitive to HLA-G, which inhibits their cytokine secretion. Furthermore, human HLA-G+ dendritic cells, called DC-10, failed at inducing iNKT cell activation compared to their autologous HLA-G‒ DCs counterparts. Our data show for the first time that the HLA-G/ILT2 ICP is involved in iNKT cell function modulation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 9558-9558
Author(s):  
Siwen Hu-Lieskovan ◽  
Zeynep Eroglu ◽  
Jesse Meir Zaretsky ◽  
Dae Won Kim ◽  
Alain Patrick Algazi ◽  
...  

9558 Background: Desmoplastic melanoma (DM) is a rare subtype of melanoma characterized by a dense fibrous stroma, resistance to chemotherapy and no actionable driver mutation for targeted therapy. We investigated the efficacy of PD-1/L1 inhibitors and correlation with genetic landscape and tumor immune microenvironment in DM. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 1054 pts with melanoma treated with anti-PD-1/L1, resulting in 57 pts with unresectable or metastatic DM. Available baseline biopsies were analysed by digital quantitative immunohistochemistry (IHC) for CD8 and PD-L1 and by whole exome sequencing (WES), compared to available tissue from non-DM pts treated with anti-PD1/L1 at UCLA. Results: At a median follow up of 20 mo, 40 pts (70%, 95% CI 57-82) had an objective response by RECIST 1.1 criteria, including 18 (45%) CRs with no relapse observed to date. Responses were similar in DM subsets (23 pure, 29 mixed and 5 indeterminate). Kaplan-Meier estimated 1-year and 2-year overall survival were 85% (95% CI 78-98) and 74% (95% CI 64-89). WES revealed a median of 1282 (interquartile range 517-1692) non-synonymous somatic mutations per tumor in DM tumors (n = 17), significantly higher (p = 0.02) than the median of 462 (interquartile range 230-1150) in non-DM (n = 23). Mutations in NF-1 were the most common (13/17) followed by loss-of-function TP53 and ARID2, and > 82% of single nucleotide mutations were UV damage signatures. IHC analysis from 19 DM and 13 non-DM revealed a strikingly higher percentage of PD-L1 positive cells in the tumor parenchyma in DM (p = 0.04), highly associated with CD8 density and PD-L1 expression in the tumor invasive margins, indicating an active adaptive immune response. No genetic mechanisms known to cause constitutive PD-L1 expression were detected in these samples. Conclusions: Patients with advanced DM derive significant clinical benefit from PD-1/L1 inhibitors, likely related to the high mutational burden and a highly active adaptive immune response as the main mechanism of immune escape prior to therapy. Our results challenge the general conception that dense fibrous stroma around the malignant cells interferes with immune cell infiltration and efficacy of immunotherapy.


Circulation ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 138 (Suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuntian Shen ◽  
Qiang Zhao ◽  
Jiangbo Wu ◽  
Zhuoran Wang ◽  
Wei Yang

Introduction: Cardiac arrest (CA) is associated with high mortality and morbidity, which is in part due to infectious complications developed in CA patients. Infection complications, particularly pneumonia, occur in approximately 60% of CA patients. Given this high incidence, we hypothesized that after CA, the immune system is impaired, which increases the susceptibility of CA patients to potential infections. Therefore, in this study, we systematically examined the immune response in the brain and peripheral immune organs after CA. Methods: Mice were subjected to CA and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CA/CPR). Flow cytometry, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, and quantitative PCR were used to analyze the immune response in various post-CA organs. Results: First, we characterized the time course of the immune response in the spleen after CA/CPR. CA/CPR induced significant changes in all major immune cell populations. Notably, B cell frequencies decreased, while T cell frequencies increased, in various organs on day 3 post-CA. Further, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, eg IL-6, were markedly increased in the blood and brain after CA. Critically, we found that the lymphocyte counts in the spleen and thymus were dramatically lower in CA mice than in sham mice. Interestingly, CA/CPR caused progressive atrophy of the spleen and thymus. Since it has been shown that CA/CPR alters activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, we speculated that CA-induced atrophy of lymphoid organs is mediated by the HPA axis. Thus, we treated CA mice with RU486, a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist. Indeed, this treatment reversed CA-induced organ atrophy and mitigated immune cell depletion, both in the thymus and spleen. Conclusions: We provided for the first time evidence that CA/CPR rapidly induced a systemic inflammatory response followed by impairment of the immune system, which eventually led to a massive loss of immune cells in the peripheral immune organs. This CA-induced immunodeficiency appears to be mediated by dysregulation of the HPA axis. Our findings here may be of high clinical significance, considering the high incidence of infectious complications in CA patients and their detrimental effects on CA outcome.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-24
Author(s):  
M. O. Katrichenko ◽  
I. I. Lisnyi

In the reviewed article, we consider epidemiological and laboratory data that confirm the protective effects of biologically active nutrients in our diet for various diseases. Along with various factors such as alcohol, smoking, nutrition plays a vital role in influencing the patient’s immune response by transforming cells or by preventing, or acceleration of malignancy. Many data suggest that immunoactive nutrients control inflammatory and precancerous reactions in immune cells. Immunoprophylaxis is usually associated with modulation of the immune response when inflamed, thereby improving clinical outcomes. Different nutrients, including glutamine, arginine, vitamins, minerals and long-chain fatty acids, are important components of immunological nutrition. Clinical studies associated with these substances show different results with minimal effect. However, some studies have shown that these nutrients may have immunomodulatory effects that can reduce the risk of developing cancer. Pre-clinical studies claim that most of these nutrients have a positive effect in the complex treatment of cancer patients. In this article, we will consider the effect of the above nutrients on the immune system in patients of oncologic profile. Recent evidences suggest that immunological nutrition plays an important role in the development of cancer and its progression. Data from animal studies have clearly shown that the use of immunomodulatory nutrients isolated from food, by launching a cascade of immunological reactions, can detect and eliminate the tumor. Although the technology has evolved to such an extent that we can study each individual cytokine or function of the immune cell, it is difficult to demonstrate the powerful role of the immune system in preventing or treating cancer due to the complexity of the tumor cell or heterogeneity in different patients' populations. However, the study sheds light on interactions in immune responses and cancer development, prevention and therapeutic strategies that involve modulation through biologically active agents.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 117822341877480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Issam Makhoul ◽  
Mohammad Atiq ◽  
Ahmed Alwbari ◽  
Thomas Kieber-Emmons

The immune system plays a major role in cancer surveillance. Harnessing its power to treat many cancers is now a reality that has led to cures in hopeless situations where no other solutions were available from traditional anticancer drugs. These spectacular achievements rekindled the oncology community’s interest in extending the benefits to all cancers including breast cancer. The first section of this article reviews the biological foundations of the immune response to different subtypes of breast cancer and the ways cancer may overcome the immune attack leading to cancer disease. The second section is dedicated to the actual immune treatments including breast cancer vaccines, checkpoint inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and the “unconventional” immune role of chemotherapy.


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