Immunology and Immunotherapy in Cancer

A special issue of Vaccines (ISSN 2076-393X). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Vaccines and Immunotherapy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 8669

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, University at Buffalo Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
Interests: tumor immunology and immunotherapy; patient derived xenografts; autoimmune diseases; neoantigens; infectious diseases

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The immune system plays a very important role in the development, establishment, and progression of many types of cancers, including but not limited to melanoma, lung, bladder, colorectal, brain, breast, cervical, liver, leukemia. Cancer immunology studies the relationship between cancer and the ability of the immune system to eliminate the tumor while cancer immunotherapy utilizes the patient's own immune cells/system to identify, target, and eradicate the cancer cells, making it a universal weapon against many types of cancers. This Special Issue, Immunology and Immunotherapy in Cancer, focuses on understanding the role of tumors on the dysregulation and evasion of the immune system, as well as on the role of other aspects of the immune system, mainly focusing on the infiltrating immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, ultimately leading to the progression of cancers and how current or emerging immunotherapies (both prophylactic and preventive) that re-energize the immune cells can be implemented to improve the clinical outcome of patients.

Dr. Muzamil Y. Want
Guest Editor

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 1609 KiB  
Communication
Baseline Cytokine Profile Identifies a Favorable Outcome in a Subgroup of Colorectal Cancer Patients Treated with Regorafenib
by Andrea Abbona, Vincenzo Ricci, Matteo Paccagnella, Cristina Granetto, Fiorella Ruatta, Carolina Cauchi, Danilo Galizia, Michele Ghidini, Nerina Denaro, Marco Carlo Merlano and Ornella Garrone
Vaccines 2023, 11(2), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11020335 - 02 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1376
Abstract
Metastatic colorectal cancer is frequently associated with poor clinical conditions that may limit therapeutic options. Regorafenib is a small molecule approved for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, but it is hampered by significative toxicities. Moreover, only a relatively limited number of patients [...] Read more.
Metastatic colorectal cancer is frequently associated with poor clinical conditions that may limit therapeutic options. Regorafenib is a small molecule approved for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, but it is hampered by significative toxicities. Moreover, only a relatively limited number of patients benefit from the treatment. Therefore, the identification of reliable markers for response is an unmet need. Eighteen cytokines, selected based on their prevalent Th1 or Th2 effects, were collected. Peripheral blood samples were gathered at baseline in 25 metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with regorafenib. Data extracted have been linked to progression-free survival. ROC identified the best cytokines associated with outcome. The relative value of the selected cytokines was determined by PCA. Data analysis identified 8 cytokines (TGF-β, TNF-α, CCL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13 and IL-21), used to create a signature (TGF-β, TNF-α high; CCL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13 and IL-21 low) corresponding to patients with a significantly longer progression-free survival. This report suggests that the analysis of multiple cytokines might identify a cytokine signature related to a patient’s outcome that is able to recognize patients who will benefit from treatment. If confirmed, future studies, also based on different drugs, using this approach and including larger patient populations, might identify a signature allowing the a priori identification of patients to be treated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immunology and Immunotherapy in Cancer)
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16 pages, 3464 KiB  
Article
EDA-E7 Activated DCs Induces Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Immune Responses against HPV Expressing Cervical Cancer in Human Setting
by Juan Feng, Yongliang Liu, Na Zhuang, Zixuan Chai, Limei Liu, Cheng Qian, Jiatao Li and Juanjuan Shan
Vaccines 2023, 11(2), 320; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11020320 - 31 Jan 2023
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Abstract
Cervical cancer is a major cause of cancer death in women worldwide. Targeting human papillomavirus (HPV) viral oncoproteins E6 and E7 is a new strategy for cervical cancer immunotherapy and has been associated with resolution of HPV-induced lesions. How to efficiently induce T [...] Read more.
Cervical cancer is a major cause of cancer death in women worldwide. Targeting human papillomavirus (HPV) viral oncoproteins E6 and E7 is a new strategy for cervical cancer immunotherapy and has been associated with resolution of HPV-induced lesions. How to efficiently induce T cell target killing of HPV infected cervical cancer is of great potential benefit for cervical cancer treatment. Fusion protein containing the extra domain A (EDA) from fibronectin, a natural ligand for Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and HPVE7 (EDA-E7) has been shown to efficiently induce dendritic cells maturation and trigger specific antitumor CD8+ T cells response in mice. In this study, we constructed EDA-E7 fusion protein of human origin and tested its function in dendritic cell maturation as well as antitumor T cell response. We found that EDA-E7 could be efficiently captured by human PBMC derived dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro and induce DCs maturation. Importantly, this effect could work in synergy with the TLR ligand anti-CD40 agonist, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid [poly (I:C)], R848, and CpG2216. EDA-E7 matured DCs could activate T cells and trigger an anti-tumor response in vitro. Single cell RNA sequencing and T cell targeted killing assay confirmed the activation of T cells by EDA-E7 matured DCs. Therefore, therapeutic vaccination with EDA-E7 fusion protein maybe effective for human cervical carcinoma treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immunology and Immunotherapy in Cancer)
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22 pages, 23798 KiB  
Article
Integration of Bulk and Single-Cell RNA-Seq Data to Construct a Prognostic Model of Membrane Tension-Related Genes for Colon Cancer
by Jiacheng Li, Yugang Fu, Kehui Zhang and Yong Li
Vaccines 2022, 10(9), 1562; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10091562 - 19 Sep 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2202
Abstract
Background: The plasma membrane provides a highly dynamic barrier for cancer cells to interact with their surrounding microenvironment. Membrane tension, a pivotal physical property of the plasma membrane, has attracted widespread attention since it plays a role in the progression of various cancers. [...] Read more.
Background: The plasma membrane provides a highly dynamic barrier for cancer cells to interact with their surrounding microenvironment. Membrane tension, a pivotal physical property of the plasma membrane, has attracted widespread attention since it plays a role in the progression of various cancers. This study aimed to identify a prognostic signature in colon cancer from membrane tension-related genes (MTRGs) and explore its implications for the disease. Methods: Bulk RNA-seq data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and then applied to the differentially expressed gene analysis. By implementing a univariate Cox regression and a LASSO-Cox regression, we developed a prognostic model based on four MTRGs. The prognostic efficacy of this model was evaluated in combination with a Kaplan–Meier analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Moreover, the relationships between the signature and immune cell infiltration, immune status, and somatic mutation were further explored. Lastly, by utilizing single-cell RNA-seq data, cell type annotation, pseudo-time analysis, drug sensitivity, and molecular docking were implemented. Results: We constructed a 4-MTRG signature. The risk score derived from the model was further validated as an independent variable for survival prediction. Two risk groups were divided based on the risk score calculated by the 4-MTRG signature. In addition, we observed a significant difference in immune cell infiltration, such as subsets of CD4 T cells and macrophages, between the high- and low-risk groups. Moreover, in the pseudo-time analysis, TIMP1 was found to be more highly expressed with the progression of time. Finally, three small molecule drugs, elesclomol, shikonin, and bryostatin-1, exhibited a binding potential to TIMP-1. Conclusions: The novel 4-MTRG signature is a promising biomarker in predicting clinical outcomes for colon cancer patients, and TIMP1, a member of the signature, may be a sensitive regulator of the progression of colon cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immunology and Immunotherapy in Cancer)
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Review

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19 pages, 883 KiB  
Review
T Cell Based Immunotherapy for Cancer: Approaches and Strategies
by Muzamil Y. Want, Zeenat Bashir and Rauf A. Najar
Vaccines 2023, 11(4), 835; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11040835 - 13 Apr 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2718
Abstract
T cells are critical in destroying cancer cells by recognizing antigens presented by MHC molecules on cancer cells or antigen-presenting cells. Identifying and targeting cancer-specific or overexpressed self-antigens is essential for redirecting T cells against tumors, leading to tumor regression. This is achieved [...] Read more.
T cells are critical in destroying cancer cells by recognizing antigens presented by MHC molecules on cancer cells or antigen-presenting cells. Identifying and targeting cancer-specific or overexpressed self-antigens is essential for redirecting T cells against tumors, leading to tumor regression. This is achieved through the identification of mutated or overexpressed self-proteins in cancer cells, which guide the recognition of cancer cells by T-cell receptors. There are two main approaches to T cell-based immunotherapy: HLA-restricted and HLA-non-restricted Immunotherapy. Significant progress has been made in T cell-based immunotherapy over the past decade, using naturally occurring or genetically engineered T cells to target cancer antigens in hematological malignancies and solid tumors. However, limited specificity, longevity, and toxicity have limited success rates. This review provides an overview of T cells as a therapeutic tool for cancer, highlighting the advantages and future strategies for developing effective T cell cancer immunotherapy. The challenges associated with identifying T cells and their corresponding antigens, such as their low frequency, are also discussed. The review further examines the current state of T cell-based immunotherapy and potential future strategies, such as the use of combination therapy and the optimization of T cell properties, to overcome current limitations and improve clinical outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immunology and Immunotherapy in Cancer)
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