{"title":"MicroRNAs: immune modulators in cancer immunotherapy.","authors":"Yun Xing, Zhiqiang Wang, Zhou Lu, Jie Xia, Zhangjuan Xie, Mengxia Jiao, Ronghua Liu, Yiwei Chu","doi":"10.1093/immadv/ltab006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/immadv/ltab006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>MicroRNA (miRNA) is a class of endogenous small non-coding RNA of 18-25 nucleotides and plays regulatory roles in both physiological and pathological processes. Emerging evidence support that miRNAs function as immune modulators in tumors. MiRNAs as tumor suppressors or oncogenes are also found to be able to modulate anti-tumor immunity or link the crosstalk between tumor cells and immune cells surrounding. Based on the specific regulating function, miRNAs can be used as predictive, prognostic biomarkers, and therapeutic targets in immunotherapy. Here, we review new findings about the role of miRNAs in modulating immune responses, as well as discuss mechanisms underlying their dysregulation, and their clinical potentials as indicators of tumor prognosis or to sensitize cancer immunotherapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":73353,"journal":{"name":"Immunotherapy advances","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1093/immadv/ltab006","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40596068","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Immunotherapy advancesPub Date : 2021-03-09eCollection Date: 2021-01-01DOI: 10.1093/immadv/ltab004
Antonella Adami, John Maher
{"title":"An overview of CAR T-cell clinical trial activity to 2021.","authors":"Antonella Adami, John Maher","doi":"10.1093/immadv/ltab004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/immadv/ltab004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Immunotherapy of cancer using chimeric antigen receptor-engineered T-cells has transformed the management of selected haematological malignancies, triggering intense clinical trial activity in this arena. This article summarises trial activity that has been published to date across the spectrum of haematological and solid tumour types.</p>","PeriodicalId":73353,"journal":{"name":"Immunotherapy advances","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1093/immadv/ltab004","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38954775","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Immunotherapy advancesPub Date : 2021-02-17eCollection Date: 2021-01-01DOI: 10.1093/immadv/ltab003
Theo W Combes, Federica Orsenigo, Alexander Stewart, A S Jeewaka R Mendis, Deborah Dunn-Walters, Siamon Gordon, Fernando O Martinez
{"title":"CSF1R defines the mononuclear phagocyte system lineage in human blood in health and COVID-19.","authors":"Theo W Combes, Federica Orsenigo, Alexander Stewart, A S Jeewaka R Mendis, Deborah Dunn-Walters, Siamon Gordon, Fernando O Martinez","doi":"10.1093/immadv/ltab003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/immadv/ltab003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mononuclear phagocytes defend tissues, present antigens, and mediate recovery and healing. To date, we lack a marker to unify mononuclear phagocytes in humans or that informs us about their origin. Here, we reassess mononuclear phagocyte ontogeny in human blood through the lineage receptor CSF1R, in the steady state and in COVID-19. We define CSF1R as the first sensitive and reproducible pan-phagocyte lineage marker, to identify and enumerate all conventional monocytes, and the myeloid dendritic cells. In the steady state, CSF1R is sufficient for sorting and immuno-magnetic isolation. In pathology, changes in CSF1R are more sensitive than CD14 and CD16. In COVID-19, a significant drop in membrane CSF1R is useful for stratifying patients, beyond the power of cell categories published thus far, which fail to capture COVID-19 specific events. Importantly, CSF1R defines cells which are neither conventional monocytes nor DCs, which are missed in published analysis. CSF1R decrease can be linked <i>ex vivo</i> to high CSF1 levels. Blood assessment of CSF1R+ cells opens a developmental window to the Mononuclear Phagocyte System in transit from bone marrow to tissues, supports isolation and phenotypic characterisation, identifies novel cell types, and singles out CSF1R inhibition as therapeutic target in COVID-19 and other diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":73353,"journal":{"name":"Immunotherapy advances","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7928847/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40664157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Immunotherapy advancesPub Date : 2021-02-09eCollection Date: 2021-01-01DOI: 10.1093/immadv/ltab002
Wilson Savino, Beatriz Chaves, Adriana Cesar Bonomo, Vinicius Cotta-de-Almeida
{"title":"Integrin-directed antibody-based immunotherapy: focus on VLA-4.","authors":"Wilson Savino, Beatriz Chaves, Adriana Cesar Bonomo, Vinicius Cotta-de-Almeida","doi":"10.1093/immadv/ltab002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/immadv/ltab002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>One major finding of chronic inflammatory diseases of various origins is the establishment of inflammatory infiltrates, bearing different leukocyte subpopulations, including activated T lymphocytes. Integrins are among the large series of molecular interactions that have been implicated as players in both triggering and maintenance of leukocyte influx from the blood into a given organ parenchyme. Accordingly, blocking the interaction between VLA-6 integrin and laminin, experimentally abrogates heart graft rejection. Many reports have shown that VLA-4 is used by T cells to cross endothelial barriers, as well as to migrate within target tissues. In this respect, a humanized IgG4 anti-VLA-4 monoclonal antibody (specific to the α4-integrin chain of VLA-4) has been successfully applied to treat multiple sclerosis as well as inflammatory bowel disease. Anti-VLA-4 monoclonal antibody has also been applied to block transendothelial passage in other autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. On this same vein is the action of such a reagent in impairing <i>in vitro</i> transendothial and fibronectin-driven migration of CD4<sup>+</sup> and CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells expressing high densities of VLA-4 from Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients, thus potentially enlarging the use of this strategy to other diseases. Yet, in a small number of patients, the use of Natalizumab has been correlated with the progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, a serious brain infection caused by the John Cunningham virus. This issue restricted the use of the reagent. In this respect, the development of smaller and more specific antibody reagents should be envisioned as a next-generation promising strategy.</p>","PeriodicalId":73353,"journal":{"name":"Immunotherapy advances","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1093/immadv/ltab002","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40578948","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Immunotherapy advancesPub Date : 2021-02-09eCollection Date: 2021-01-01DOI: 10.1093/immadv/ltab001
Patrick Greve, Friederike A G Meyer-Wentrup, Victor Peperzak, Marianne Boes
{"title":"Upcoming immunotherapeutic combinations for B-cell lymphoma.","authors":"Patrick Greve, Friederike A G Meyer-Wentrup, Victor Peperzak, Marianne Boes","doi":"10.1093/immadv/ltab001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/immadv/ltab001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>After initial introduction for B-cell lymphomas as adjuvant therapies to established cancer treatments, immune checkpoint inhibitors and other immunotherapies are now integrated in mainstream regimens, both in adult and pediatric patients. We here provide an overview of the current status of combination therapies for B-cell lymphoma, by in-depth analysis of combination therapy trials registered between 2015-2020. Our analysis provides new insight into the rapid evolution in lymphoma treatment, as propelled by new additions to the treatment arsenal. We conclude with prospects on upcoming clinical trials which will likely use systematic testing approaches of more combinations of established chemotherapy regimens with new agents, as well as new combinations of immunotherapy and targeted therapy. Future trials will be set up as basket or umbrella-type trials to facilitate the evaluation of new drugs targeting specific genetic changes in the tumor or associated immune microenvironment. As such, lymphoma patients will benefit by receiving more tailored treatment that is based on synergistic effects of chemotherapy combined with new agents targeting specific aspects of tumor biology and the immune system.</p>","PeriodicalId":73353,"journal":{"name":"Immunotherapy advances","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1093/immadv/ltab001","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40578947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Immuno-antibiotics: targeting microbial metabolic pathways sensed by unconventional T cells.","authors":"Matthias Eberl, Eric Oldfield, Thomas Herrmann","doi":"10.1093/immadv/ltab005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/immadv/ltab005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Human Vγ9/Vδ2 T cells, mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, and other unconventional T cells are specialised in detecting microbial metabolic pathway intermediates that are absent in humans. The recognition by such semi-invariant innate-like T cells of compounds like (<i>E</i>)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl pyrophosphate (HMB-PP), the penultimate metabolite in the MEP isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway, and intermediates of the riboflavin biosynthesis pathway and their metabolites allows the immune system to rapidly sense pathogen-associated molecular patterns that are shared by a wide range of micro-organisms. Given the essential nature of these metabolic pathways for microbial viability, they have emerged as promising targets for the development of novel antibiotics. Here, we review recent findings that link enzymatic inhibition of microbial metabolism with alterations in the levels of unconventional T cell ligands produced by treated micro-organisms that have given rise to the concept of 'immuno-antibiotics': combining direct antimicrobial activity with an immunotherapeutic effect via modulation of unconventional T cell responses.</p>","PeriodicalId":73353,"journal":{"name":"Immunotherapy advances","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1093/immadv/ltab005","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10334639","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Special Review: The future of Immunotherapy.","authors":"Cornelis J M Melief","doi":"10.1093/immadv/ltaa005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/immadv/ltaa005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>During the last two decades, two main schools of modern immunotherapy have come to the forefront. The chimeric anti-CD20 antibody rituximab that was introduced for the treatment of refractory follicular lymphoma in 1998 was one of the first examples of the school of passive immunotherapy. Subsequently major and ever more costly efforts were spent on the development of blockbuster monotherapies including other monoclonal but also bispecific antibodies of highly defined specificity and subclass, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), as well as <i>ex vivo</i> expanded tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-transduced T cells, and TCR-transduced T cells. On the other hand, there is the school that works toward active induction of patient B- or T-cell immunity against antigens of choice, or active tolerance against pathogenic allergens, auto-antigens or allo-antigens. Stradled in between these two approaches is treatment with blockers of T cell checkpoint control, which releases the brakes of T cells that have already responded to antigen. Extensive and detailed insight into the cellular and molecular interactions that regulate specific immune responses is indispensable in order to be able to optimize efficacy and rule out treatment related toxicity. This applies to all types of immunotherapy. Our knowledge of the checks and balances in the immune system is still increasing at an unprecedented pace, fostering ever more effective and specific (combination) immunotherapies and offering a rich harvest of innovative immunotherapies in the years ahead.</p>","PeriodicalId":73353,"journal":{"name":"Immunotherapy advances","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1093/immadv/ltaa005","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10681634","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Advancement of antigen-specific immunotherapy: knowledge transfer between allergy and autoimmunity.","authors":"Naomi Richardson, David Cameron Wraith","doi":"10.1093/immadv/ltab009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/immadv/ltab009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Targeted restoration of immunological tolerance to self-antigens or innocuous environmental allergens represents the ultimate aim of treatment options in autoimmune and allergic disease. Antigen-specific immunotherapy (ASI) is the only intervention that has proven disease-modifying efficacy as evidenced by induction of long-term remission in a number of allergic conditions. Mounting evidence is now indicating that specific targeting of pathogenic T cells in autoinflammatory and autoimmune settings enables effective restoration of immune homeostasis between effector and regulatory cells and alters the immunological course of disease. Here, we discuss the key lessons learned during the development of antigen-specific immunotherapies and how these can be applied to inform future interventions. Armed with this knowledge and current high-throughput technology to track immune cell phenotype and function, it may no longer be a matter of 'if' but 'when' this ultimate aim of targeted tolerance restoration is realised.</p>","PeriodicalId":73353,"journal":{"name":"Immunotherapy advances","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/fd/7b/ltab009.PMC9327121.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9944584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Beyond Ipilimumab: a review of immunotherapeutic approaches in clinical trials in melanoma","authors":"G. Middleton","doi":"10.1093/immadv/ltaa010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/immadv/ltaa010","url":null,"abstract":"Summary In this first in a series of ‘Trials Watch’ articles, we briefly review a highly selected set of clinical trials that are currently recruiting or about to open to recruitment in melanoma, the disease first transformed by the introduction of immune checkpoint blockade inhibitors (ICI). We place equal emphasis on phase I/II studies investigating the activity of biologically compelling novel immunotherapeutics, and on randomised trials of ICI with and without novel agents, as these latter studies optimise the standard-of-care use of ICI, and determine whether novel agents become part of the approved therapeutic armamentarium. We do not consider here combination therapy with other checkpoint antagonists or agonists besides combination of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with anti-CTLA4 mAbs, as these will be reviewed in a subsequent article in this series. A glossary of agents to be discussed is found at the end of this article.","PeriodicalId":73353,"journal":{"name":"Immunotherapy advances","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1093/immadv/ltaa010","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43716089","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Regulating innovation in the early development of cell therapies","authors":"A. Exley, J. McBlane","doi":"10.1093/immadv/ltaa011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/immadv/ltaa011","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Clinical need for paradigm shifts in efficacy and safety is driving the rapid and wide-ranging innovation in cell therapies for cancer beyond existing regulatory frameworks. Critical issues emerging during clinical trials frequently reflect unresolved elements of the regulation of innovation conundrum from earlier stages of development. We address this challenge using a global regulators’ perspective on the preclinical development of cell therapies, as a navigational aid to intended commercial use which maximises the clinical relevance of developmental data. We examine the implications of tumour targeting based on B cell, natural killer cell, conventional and unconventional T cell receptor domains; multiplex approaches; genetic manipulation strategies; and autologous versus allogeneic cell sources. We propose that detailed characterisation of both the cell source and final product is critical to optimising manufacture of individualised autologous or off the shelf allogeneic cell therapies, enabling product consistency to underpin extrapolation of clinical trial data to the expected commercial use. We highlight preclinical approaches to characterising target antigens including the Human Cell Atlas initiative, multi-dimensional cell culture, and safety testing against activated, proliferating or stressed control cells. Practical solutions are provided for preclinical toxicity studies when cell therapies target uniquely human tumour antigens, including illustrative mitigation measures for potential toxicity likely to support timely approval of first-in-human clinical trials. We recommend addressing the regulation of innovation conundrum through serial engagement between innovators and regulators early in the development of cell therapies for cancer, accelerating patient access while safeguarding against unacceptable toxicities.","PeriodicalId":73353,"journal":{"name":"Immunotherapy advances","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1093/immadv/ltaa011","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42039856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}