Anti-Cancer DrugsPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1097/CAD.0000000000001765
Qing Huang, Xuan Jiang, Na Tao
{"title":"Temsirolimus targets chemoresistant uveal melanoma via mammalian target of rapamycin inhibition and enhances chemotherapy.","authors":"Qing Huang, Xuan Jiang, Na Tao","doi":"10.1097/CAD.0000000000001765","DOIUrl":"10.1097/CAD.0000000000001765","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chemotherapy resistance remains a major challenge in the treatment of uveal melanoma, necessitating the identification of novel therapeutic strategies. In this study, we established chemoresistant uveal melanoma cell lines by exposing parental cells to dacarbazine, cisplatin, or gemcitabine and performed high-throughput drug screening incorporating normal human epidermal melanocytes (NHEMs) as a normal control to assess both efficacy and selectivity. Our screening identified temsirolimus and selumetinib as top candidates, with temsirolimus exhibiting strong tumor-selective cytotoxicity. Further in-vitro studies confirmed that temsirolimus induced apoptosis and suppressed clonogenic potential in chemoresistant uveal melanoma cells while having minimal effects on NHEM. Combination studies demonstrated synergy between temsirolimus and cisplatin or gemcitabine, reinforcing its role as an effective chemosensitizer. In a chemoresistant uveal melanoma xenograft model, temsirolimus significantly inhibited tumor growth without inducing systemic toxicity, as evidenced by stable biochemical markers of organ function. Mechanistically, temsirolimus downregulated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, as indicated by reduced p-mTOR, p-S6, and p-4EBP1 expression in tumor tissues. These findings demonstrate that temsirolimus selectively targets chemoresistant uveal melanoma cells, enhances chemotherapy efficacy, and suppresses tumor growth via mTOR inhibition, supporting its potential clinical application as a novel therapeutic strategy for chemoresistant uveal melanoma.</p>","PeriodicalId":7969,"journal":{"name":"Anti-Cancer Drugs","volume":" ","pages":"128-136"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145426565","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anti-Cancer DrugsPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-10-23DOI: 10.1097/CAD.0000000000001777
Koki Nakashima, Koji Yamaoka, Yukihiro Umeda, Yuko Waseda
{"title":"Successful treatment with erlotinib plus ramucirumab in a patient with non-small-cell lung cancer harboring EGFR exon 20 insertion mutation.","authors":"Koki Nakashima, Koji Yamaoka, Yukihiro Umeda, Yuko Waseda","doi":"10.1097/CAD.0000000000001777","DOIUrl":"10.1097/CAD.0000000000001777","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR ) exon 20 insertion mutations generally result in poor sensitivity to EGFR -tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), the administration of EGFR -TKIs is not recommended in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Nonetheless, EGFR exon 20 A763_Y763insFQEA, a genotype of EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations, has some sensitivity to EGFR -TKIs. However, the therapeutic effects of EGFR -TKIs alone for EGFR exon 20 A763_Y763insFQEA are insufficient compared to those for common EGFR mutations. Therefore, more effective treatment options are required for this mutation. Herein, we present a case in which treatment with erlotinib plus ramucirumab led to a complete response and progression-free survival of 13 months in a 79-year-old man with advanced NSCLC harboring EGFR exon 20 A763_Y763insFQEA. This case suggests that this regimen should be considered as an effective treatment option for such patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":7969,"journal":{"name":"Anti-Cancer Drugs","volume":" ","pages":"120-122"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145426577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Anti-CD19 antibody tafasitamab therapy for relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a case series.","authors":"Jianhua You, Wenting Chen, Zixun Yan, Dengmei Tian, Hongmei Yi, Yuan Feng, Mengping Zhang, Tingting Xing, Zhi Wang, Weili Zhao, Pengpeng Xu","doi":"10.1097/CAD.0000000000001774","DOIUrl":"10.1097/CAD.0000000000001774","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Tafasitamab, an anti-CD19 mAb, has demonstrated promising efficacy in relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL) in Western populations, but its use in Chinese patients has not been reported. This case series reports the use of tafasitamab in four Chinese patients with R/R DLBCL. Four patients with R/R DLBCL were treated at the Department of Hematology, Hainan Hospital of Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. All patients had previously received rituximab with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone therapy. After treatment with tafasitamab and lenalidomide, two patients with primary refractory disease, one achieved a partial response and another had stable disease. One patient who relapsed after autologous stem-cell transplantation received tafasitamab plus lenalidomide and a Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor and showed remarkable tumor reduction in all sites except for the lymph nodes in the left inguinal region. One patient who relapsed after second-line therapy achieved complete remission with tafasitamab monotherapy. Tafasitamab-based treatment was well-tolerated, with the most common adverse event being neutropenia. Our real-world experience first suggests that tafasitamab-based flexible treatment may be a potential treatment option for Chinese patients with R/R DLBCL, supporting the need for further investigation into its efficacy and safety in Chinese patients, with a particular focus on exploring directions such as combinations with BTK inhibitors.</p>","PeriodicalId":7969,"journal":{"name":"Anti-Cancer Drugs","volume":" ","pages":"123-127"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145429909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anti-Cancer DrugsPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1097/CAD.0000000000001767
Allan Ramos-Esquivel, David Romero-Orocu, Raquel Mora-Hidalgo
{"title":"Low relative dose intensity adjuvant chemotherapy in elderly patients with breast cancer: predictors and impact on survival.","authors":"Allan Ramos-Esquivel, David Romero-Orocu, Raquel Mora-Hidalgo","doi":"10.1097/CAD.0000000000001767","DOIUrl":"10.1097/CAD.0000000000001767","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chemotherapy improves outcomes in patients with high-risk early or locally advanced breast cancer, but older adults often experience higher toxicity that leads to treatment delays, dose reductions, and reduced relative dose intensity (RDI). This study examined predictors of low RDI and its impact on overall survival (OS) in women aged over 65 years treated with neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy at San Juan de Dios Hospital (Costa Rica) between November 2018 and April 2023. A total of 264 patients (mean age: 70.1 years) were included. Nearly one-third had a Charlson Comorbidity Index (CMI) greater than 6. Tumor subtypes were hormone receptor (HR)+/ human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2)-(48.9%), HR+/HER2+ (15.9%), HR-/HER2+ (33%), and triple-negative (17.8%). Most patients (68.6%) received anthracycline-based regimens. Overall, 17.4% had an RDI below 80%. After a median follow-up of 54.6 months, 56 deaths were recorded. Low RDI was significantly associated with worse OS [hazard ratio: 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-3.13; P = 0.04]. Independent predictors of low RDI were anthracycline-based therapy [odds ratio (OR): 4.76, 95% CI: 2.17-9.09], CMI greater than 6 (OR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.02-4.54), and age more than 70 years (OR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.14-5.01). These findings suggest that advanced age, comorbidities, and anthracycline regimens increase the risk of reduced RDI, which negatively impacts survival. Supportive measures are critical to maintain chemotherapy intensity in older women.</p>","PeriodicalId":7969,"journal":{"name":"Anti-Cancer Drugs","volume":" ","pages":"89-92"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145426542","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anti-Cancer DrugsPub Date : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1097/cad.0000000000001813
Luxi Qian, Zizhang Guo, Xiang Cao, Huanfeng Zhu, Jingshu Xu, Xin Chen, Dan Zong, Xia He
{"title":"APG-1252 enhances the anticancer role of paclitaxel in non-small-cell lung cancer cells by suppressing the extracellular regulated protein kinases/myeloid cell leukemia 1 pathway","authors":"Luxi Qian, Zizhang Guo, Xiang Cao, Huanfeng Zhu, Jingshu Xu, Xin Chen, Dan Zong, Xia He","doi":"10.1097/cad.0000000000001813","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/cad.0000000000001813","url":null,"abstract":"The efficacy of paclitaxel (PTX), an important chemotherapy drug in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, is limited by its resistance. APG-1252 has an inhibitory role in cancer and can inhibit myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL-1) to enhance chemotherapy drugs' antitumor effect. Therefore, this research further investigated whether APG-1252 could enhance the anticancer role of PTX by regulating MCL-1. NSCLC cells were treated with drugs. Cell viability was determined using the cell counting kit-8 assay. The cell apoptosis was examined using flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling staining. The abilities of cells to migrate, invade, and proliferate were examined using transwell and colony formation assays, as needed. The expression levels of extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK), phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK), and MCL-1 were quantified by Western blot. APG-1252 and PTX decreased the NSCLC cells' viability. APG-1252 and PTX induced cell apoptosis and inhibited the cells from migrating, proliferating, and invading. APG-1252 and PTX suppressed the expression of p-ERK and MCL-1. Besides, APG-1252 enhanced the anticancer role of PTX in NSCLC cells. Ro 67-7476, a p-ERK agonist, had an opposite role to the combination of APG-1252 with PTX in NSCLC cells. Additionally, Ro 67-7476 abolished the anticancer role of the combination of APG-1252 with PTX in the biological functions of NSCLC cells. APG-1252 enhanced the anticancer role of PTX in NSCLC cells by suppressing the ERK/MCL-1 pathway. This work provided the theoretical basis for the APG-1252 application.","PeriodicalId":7969,"journal":{"name":"Anti-Cancer Drugs","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147878254","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anti-Cancer DrugsPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-10-16DOI: 10.1097/CAD.0000000000001770
Juan Jiang, Ju Zhu, Yin Xiao, Lu Gan
{"title":"PLCG2 promotes cell survival and mitophagy of small cell lung cancer via regulating VCP.","authors":"Juan Jiang, Ju Zhu, Yin Xiao, Lu Gan","doi":"10.1097/CAD.0000000000001770","DOIUrl":"10.1097/CAD.0000000000001770","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive form of lung cancer that is characterized by rapid growth. PLCG2 is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in intracellular signal transduction pathways. This study aims to discover the role of PLCG2 in SCLC and the underlying mechanism. Relative expression of PLCG2 was detected by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and Western blot. Cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis were assessed by cell counting kit-8, colony formation, and flow cytometry assays. Mitophagy-related protein levels were analyzed by Western blot. RNA immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to analyze the interaction between PLCG2 and VCP . A xenograft mouse model was established to analyze the role of PLCG2 in vivo . Results showed that PLCG2 was upregulated in SCLC tissues and cells, with high diagnostic potential. Besides, PLCG2 deficiency inhibited cell survival and mitophagy and promoted apoptosis in SCLC cells. In addition, PLCG2 interacted with VCP , and VCP overexpression reversed the inhibitory effects of PLCG2 silencing. In vivo , PLCG2 silencing suppressed SCLC tumor growth. In conclusion, PLCG2 is a promising biomarker for SCLC diagnosis and might be a potential therapeutic target, with its interaction with VCP playing a role in SCLC cell survival and mitophagy.</p>","PeriodicalId":7969,"journal":{"name":"Anti-Cancer Drugs","volume":" ","pages":"40-48"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145429947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anti-Cancer DrugsPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-04DOI: 10.1097/CAD.0000000000001787
Rashidi Dzul Keflee, Kok Hoong Leong, Muhammad Kumayl Abdulwahab, Azhar Ariffin, Kin Weng Kong
{"title":"A new anilinoquinazoline derivative, F307 induces autophagy and differential apoptosis in wild-type and mutated-epidermal growth factor receptor non-small cell lung cancer cell lines.","authors":"Rashidi Dzul Keflee, Kok Hoong Leong, Muhammad Kumayl Abdulwahab, Azhar Ariffin, Kin Weng Kong","doi":"10.1097/CAD.0000000000001787","DOIUrl":"10.1097/CAD.0000000000001787","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) often develops epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations that respond poorly to chemotherapy with complicated resistance mechanisms, limiting the long-term treatment success. This study is to determine the functional impact and molecular mechanisms of the F307 compound in NSCLC cell lines harboring either wild-type or mutant EGFR. Cell proliferation in NSCLC cell lines was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were analyzed via flow cytometry, supported by caspase activity assays and morphological evaluations. Western blotting was used to quantify key proteins involved in cell cycle regulation, autophagy, apoptosis, and EGFR signaling. F307, a new anilinoquinazoline derivative, demonstrated potent antiproliferative effects in a time- and dose-dependent manner. It induced autophagic activity in both A549 and H1975 cells. In A549 cells, F307 promoted caspase-dependent apoptosis via the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway, whereas in H1975 cells via a caspase-independent mechanism, characterized by poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. This is accompanied by increased p53 expression in A549 and decreased mutant p53 levels in H1975 cells. Cell cycle analysis revealed G2/M phase arrest in both cell lines, with increased p21 expression. F307 effectively inhibited EGFR phosphorylation and downstream phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling, leading to reduced extracellular signal-regulated kinase and protein kinase B phosphorylation in A549 cells and elevated levels in H1975 cells. This study highlights EGFR as a key target in NSCLC and provides additional insights of F307's antitumor activity, but further improvement to the compound and biological studies are needed to uncover its potential for further therapeutic development.</p>","PeriodicalId":7969,"journal":{"name":"Anti-Cancer Drugs","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145450646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"First-line lorlatinib treatment in a 19-year-old patient with ALK-rearranged pulmonary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: a case report and literature review.","authors":"Fatih Kemik, Pinar Bulutay, Cevat İlteriş Kıkılı, Bahadir Köylü, Nazan Demir, Elif Değirmenci, Kadir Burak Özer, Çisel Aydin Meriçöz, Serhan Tanju, Fatih Selçukbiricik","doi":"10.1097/CAD.0000000000001754","DOIUrl":"10.1097/CAD.0000000000001754","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pulmonary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a rare and aggressive subtype of nonsmall cell lung cancer, typically occurring in elderly male smokers. Its occurrence in the adolescent population is exceptionally uncommon, with only a handful of cases reported in the literature. Even more rarely, LCNEC harbors ALK fusions, an unusual molecular alteration with important therapeutic relevance. We report a 19-year-old female patient who presented with bone pain and was found to have widespread skeletal and mediastinal lymph node involvement. Initial workup revealed elevated serum calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels, and histopathology showed high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma with immunoreactivity for chromogranin, synaptophysin, CD56, as well as calcitonin and CEA. Due to the neuroendocrine phenotype and calcitonin positivity, metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma was initially suspected. However, thyroid fine needle aspiration from the suspicious thyroid nodule did not provide any evidence in this direction, and the RET mutation testing was also negative. Further molecular analysis revealed an EML4-ALK fusion and a TP53 mutation in tumor tissue. The patient was diagnosed with ALK-positive LCNEC and treated with lorlatinib and denosumab combination. A marked clinical and metabolic response was achieved within 3 months of treatment initiation. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of ALK-rearranged pulmonary LCNEC in an adolescent patient treated with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. This case underscores the extreme rarity of LCNEC in adolescents, highlighting that ALK rearrangements, although exceptionally rare in this histological subtype, can have significant therapeutic implications. It further emphasizes the importance of routine molecular profiling in atypical clinical scenarios and supports the utility of targeted therapies in rare tumor subsets.</p>","PeriodicalId":7969,"journal":{"name":"Anti-Cancer Drugs","volume":" ","pages":"82-88"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144582874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anti-Cancer DrugsPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-10-23DOI: 10.1097/CAD.0000000000001779
Yan Tuo, Chao Li, Qing Wan, Yuelu Tang, Yuanqiang Wang, Wanyi Chen
{"title":"Identifying novel triazole-containing histone deacetylase 1 antitumor inhibitors through molecular simulations and ADME/T profiling.","authors":"Yan Tuo, Chao Li, Qing Wan, Yuelu Tang, Yuanqiang Wang, Wanyi Chen","doi":"10.1097/CAD.0000000000001779","DOIUrl":"10.1097/CAD.0000000000001779","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1), a pivotal epigenetic modulator, is critically involved in oncogenesis and serves as a promising target for anticancer drug discovery. In this study, 59 reported HDAC1 inhibitors were utilized to establish robust three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship models for designing novel triazole-containing derivatives with optimized bioactivity and pharmacokinetic profiles. Comparative molecular field analysis ( n = 9, R2 = 0.966, q2 = 0.781) and comparative molecular similarity index analysis ( n = 6, R2 = 0.945; q2 = 0.778) confirmed the predictive reliability of these models. On the basis of the contour maps analysis, the key structural modification sites were determined, and seven promising analogs were reasonably designed. These candidates showed good drug-likeness in ADME/T profiling and formed stable complexes with HDAC1 in molecular simulations, underscoring their promising inhibitory potential. Our study provided a strategic framework for the discovery of HDAC1 drugs and identified promising leads for cancer therapeutics.</p>","PeriodicalId":7969,"journal":{"name":"Anti-Cancer Drugs","volume":" ","pages":"49-57"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145426559","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anti-Cancer DrugsPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-05DOI: 10.1097/CAD.0000000000001790
Jie Dai, Rui Yang, Yina Cun, Xinwen Zhang, Jing Li, Lei Shi, Lili Zhou, Yufen Tao, Li Shi, Yufeng Yao, Shuyuan Liu
{"title":"Precision design of an HLA-I-targeted multiepitope vaccine against human papillomavirus 16 oncoproteins E6/E7: integrated immunoinformatic and immunogenicity profiling.","authors":"Jie Dai, Rui Yang, Yina Cun, Xinwen Zhang, Jing Li, Lei Shi, Lili Zhou, Yufen Tao, Li Shi, Yufeng Yao, Shuyuan Liu","doi":"10.1097/CAD.0000000000001790","DOIUrl":"10.1097/CAD.0000000000001790","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Viral oncogenes E6 and E7 are ideal targets for therapeutic vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cervical cancer (CC). T cell-mediated immunity plays a crucial role in the clearance of HPV infection and regression of intraepithelial neoplasia. Current strategies for therapeutic vaccine development predominantly depend on immunoinformatic predictions of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes. Three T-cell epitope prediction programs were used to identify HPV16 E6 and E7 epitopes restricted to HLA-A*02:01. Subsequently, in silico evaluations were performed using five bioinformatic databases and computational servers. The binding affinities of these peptides to HLA-A2 molecules were experimentally validated using a T2 cell-binding assay. The effectiveness of the vaccine developed by combining peptides and CpG-containing oligonucleotide (CpG-ODN) was validated by inducing the generation of CTLs ex vivo, and its immunogenicity was verified in HLA-A*02:01/H-2D d (AAD) transgenic mice. Eight HLA-A*02:01-restricted candidate peptides were preliminarily identified, and all candidate peptides demonstrated binding capabilities to HLA-A2 molecules. Using the integrated approach, four high-affinity peptides were successfully identified. Notably, these peptides also exhibited the potential to induce dendritic cell maturation, enhance the activation and proliferation of CD8 + T cells, and elicit potent antigen-specific CTL responses against tumor cells. These findings support the potential application of the selected peptides in CTL-based immunotherapy for HPV-driven malignancies. Furthermore, the described peptide-screening platform proved to be an effective strategy for the rational design of candidate antigens for HPV therapeutic vaccines.</p>","PeriodicalId":7969,"journal":{"name":"Anti-Cancer Drugs","volume":" ","pages":"58-66"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145450173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}