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Immunooncol Technol 2020 Mar 27;5:10-21. Epub 2020 Mar 27.

Department of Radiology, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA.

Immunotherapy has changed the treatment landscape for many cancers; however, not all patients treated have a favorable response and others can develop immune-related adverse events. A method to predict the treatment response to immunotherapeutic agents could allow for improved selection of patients more likely to benefit from treatment while sparing those who would suffer serious complications. While this has been an active area of research and has resulted in significant insights, current proposed mechanisms do not fully explain responses to therapy. Read More

Acta Pharm Sin B 2022 Jun 14;12(6):2740-2750. Epub 2021 Jul 14.

Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Life Sciences, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, National Institute of Functional Materials, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.

Immunogenic cell death (ICD) plays a major role in cancer immunotherapy by stimulating specific T cell responses and restoring the antitumor immune system. However, effective type II ICD inducers without biotoxicity are still very limited. Herein, a tentative drug- or photosensitizer-free strategy was developed by employing enzymatic self-assembly of the peptide F-pY-T to induce mitochondrial oxidative stress in cancer cells. Read More

Cells 2022 Jun 16;11(12). Epub 2022 Jun 16.

The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China.

Exosomes are membranous structures secreted by nearly all cell types. As critical messengers for intercellular communication, exosomes deliver bioactive cargoes to recipient cells and are involved in multiple physiopathological processes, including immunoregulation. Our pioneering study revealed that cancer cells release programmed death-ligand 1-positive exosomes into the circulation to counter antitumor immunity systemically via T cells. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2022 Jun 11;14(12). Epub 2022 Jun 11.

Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Græcia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive malignancy burdened by poor prognosis. While huge progress of immunotherapy has recently improved the outcome of B-cell malignancies, the lack of tumor-restricted T-cell antigens still hampers its progress in T-ALL. Therefore, innovative immunotherapeutic agents are eagerly awaited. Read More

Biomedicines 2022 Jun 18;10(6). Epub 2022 Jun 18.

Department of Radiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.

Immunotherapy has been extensively explored in recent years with encouraging results in selected types of cancer. Such success aroused interest in the expansion of such indications, requiring a deep understanding of the complex role of the immune system in carcinogenesis. The definition of hot vs. Read More

Biomedicines 2022 Jun 14;10(6). Epub 2022 Jun 14.

Department of Oncology/Hematology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an essential role in the development, proliferation, and survival of leukemic blasts in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Within the bone marrow and peripheral blood, various phenotypically and functionally altered cells in the TME provide critical signals to suppress the anti-tumor immune response, allowing tumor cells to evade elimination. Thus, unraveling the complex interplay between AML and its microenvironment may have important clinical implications and are essential to directing the development of novel targeted therapies. Read More

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2022 Jun 23. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

Department of Immunology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 6446-14155, Tehran, Iran.

Purpose: Several approaches have so far been employed to establish anti-tumor immunity by targeting HER2 protein. Active immunization with recombinant HER2 subdomains has previously been demonstrated to induce potent immune response and tumor growth inhibition. In the present study, we investigated the immunogenicity and tumor inhibitory effect of a fusion protein consisting of human HER2 extracellular subdomain (ECD-DI + II) together with T-helper cell epitopes of Tetanus toxin (p2 and p30). Read More

Expert Rev Vaccines 2022 Jun 23. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.

Introduction: Chronic infection with the protozoal parasite leads to a progressive cardiac disease, known as chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC). A new therapeutic Chagas disease vaccine is in development to augment existing antiparasitic chemotherapy drugs.

Areas Covered: We report on our current understanding of the underlying immunologic and physiologic mechanisms that lead to CCC, including parasite immune escape mechanisms that allow persistence and the subsequent inflammatory and fibrotic processes that lead to clinical disease. Read More

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2022 Jun 21. Epub 2022 Jun 21.

Center for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States.

Combination therapy has gained a lot of attention thanks to its superior activity against cancer. In the present study, we report a cRGD-targeted liposomal preparation for co-delivery of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) small interfering RNA (siRNA) and anemoside B4 (AB4)─AB4/siP-c-L─and evaluate its anticancer efficiency in mouse models of LLC and 4T1 tumors. AB4/siP-c-L showed a particle size of (180. Read More

Med Oncol 2022 Jun 18;39(9):130. Epub 2022 Jun 18.

Burn and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Velayat Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Parastar St., 41887-94755, Rasht, Iran.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a fatal brain tumor in adults with a bleak diagnosis. Expansion of immunosuppressive and malignant CD4 + FoxP3 + GITR + regulatory T cells is one of the hallmarks of GBM. Importantly, most of the patients with GBM expresses the tryptophan-degrading enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). Read More

Leuk Lymphoma 2022 Jun 15:1-13. Epub 2022 Jun 15.

Lymphoma Service, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a morphologically and phenotypically heterogeneous subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and has historically been associated with poor outcomes. However, recent advances in our understanding of this disease have yielded new targeted and immune-based therapies with promising activity. Immune-based therapies such as monoclonal antibodies, immunomodulators, and CAR T cells have significantly improved outcomes and are now standard of care in MCL. Read More

Front Immunol 2022 25;13:912594. Epub 2022 May 25.

University Medical Center Mainz, Department of Dermatology, Mainz, Germany.

In contrast to conventional anti-tumor agents, nano-carriers allow co-delivery of distinct drugs in a cell type-specific manner. So far, many nanodrug-based immunotherapeutic approaches aim to target and kill tumor cells directly or to address antigen presenting cells (APC) like dendritic cells (DC) in order to elicit tumor antigen-specific T cell responses. Regulatory T cells (Treg) constitute a major obstacle in tumor therapy by inducing a pro-tolerogenic state in APC and inhibiting T cell activation and T effector cell activity. Read More

Stem Cell Res Ther 2022 Jun 9;13(1):244. Epub 2022 Jun 9.

Department of General Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.

Background: It is generally accepted that colorectal cancer (CRC) originates from cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are responsible for CRC progression, metastasis and therapy resistance. The high heterogeneity of CSCs has precluded clinical application of CSC-targeting therapy. Here, we aimed to characterize the stemness landscapes and screen for certain patients more responsive to immunotherapy. Read More

Eur J Pharmacol 2022 Jun 6;928:175087. Epub 2022 Jun 6.

Ischemic Disorder Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran. Electronic address:

The tumor microenvironment (TME) and its components have recently attracted tremendous attention in cancer treatment strategies, as alongside the genetic and epigenetic alterations in tumor cells, TME could also provide a fertile background for malignant cells to survive and proliferate. Interestingly, TME plays a vital role in the mediation of cancer metastasis and drug resistance even against immunotherapeutic agents. Among different cells that are presenting in TME, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have shown to have significant value in the regulation of angiogenesis, tumor metastasis, and drug-resistance through manipulating the composition as well as the organization of extracellular matrix (ECM). Read More

Front Immunol 2022 23;13:875072. Epub 2022 May 23.

Unit of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Laboratory of Viral Immunopathology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Parma, Parma, Italy.

Natural killer (NK) cells may become functionally exhausted entering hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and this has been associated with tumor progression and poor clinical outcome. Hypoxia, low nutrients, immunosuppressive cells, and soluble mediators characterize the intratumor microenvironment responsible for the metabolic deregulation of infiltrating immune cells such as NK cells. HCC-infiltrating NK cells from patients undergoing liver resection for HCC were sorted, and genome-wide transcriptome profiling was performed. Read More

Drug Deliv Transl Res 2022 Jun 7. Epub 2022 Jun 7.

Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125, Turin, Italy.

Immunotherapy is a valuable approach to cancer treatment as it is able to activate the immune system. However, the curative methods currently in clinical practice, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, present some limitations. Dendritic cell vaccination has been investigated as an immunotherapeutic strategy, and nanotechnology-based delivery systems have emerged as powerful tools for improving immunotherapy and vaccine development. Read More

J Immunol 2022 Jun 6. Epub 2022 Jun 6.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Transgene SA, Lyon, France;

Persistence of an immunosuppressive state plays a role in septic patient morbidity and late mortality. Both innate and adaptive pathways are impaired, pointing toward the need for immune interventions targeting both arms of the immune system. We developed a virotherapy using the nonpropagative modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA), which harbors the intrinsic capacity to stimulate innate immunity, to deliver IL-7, a potent activator of adaptive immunity. Read More

Chem Soc Rev 2022 Jun 20;51(12):5136-5174. Epub 2022 Jun 20.

State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, School of Materials and Energy & Chongqing Key Laboratory of Soft-Matter Material Chemistry and Function Manufacturing, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.

Recent years have witnessed increasingly rapid advances in nanocarrier-based biomedicine aimed at improving treatment paradigms for cancer. Nanogels serve as multipurpose and constructed vectors formed intramolecular cross-linking to generate drug delivery systems, which is attributed predominantly to their satisfactory biocompatibility, bio-responsiveness, high stability, and low toxicity. Recently, immunotherapy has experienced unprecedented growth and has become the preferred strategy for cancer treatment, and mainly involves the mobilisation of the immune system and an enhanced anti-tumour immunity of the tumour microenvironment. Read More

Skin Health Dis 2021 Dec 16;1(4):e55. Epub 2021 Jun 16.

Department of Dermatology Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Norwich UK.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare neuroendocrine carcinoma. The cellular origin of MCC may include Merkel cell precursors. The incidence of MCC has increased significantly however trends may have been confounded by evolving diagnostic criteria. Read More

J Control Release 2022 Jun 8;348:250-263. Epub 2022 Jun 8.

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China; Third-Grade Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Chemistry, National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China; Jilin Provincial Key Experiment Education Center for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China. Electronic address:

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is resistant to current immunotherapy. This poor outcome mainly results from the immunosuppressive characteristics of tumor microenvironment (TME). Accumulating evidence indicates that some chemotherapy agents trigger immunogenic cell death (ICD), providing a promising strategy to remodel the immunosuppressive TME. Read More

Oncoimmunology 2022 26;11(1):2077898. Epub 2022 May 26.

Team "Metabolism, Cancer & Immunity", Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM UMRS1138, Université Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.

The past decades witnessed the clinical employment of targeted therapies including but not limited to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) that restrain a broad variety of pro-tumorigenic signals. TKIs can be categorized into (i) agents that directly target cancer cells, (ii) normalize angiogenesis or (iii) affect cells of the hematologic lineage. However, a clear distinction of TKIs based on this definition is limited by the fact that many TKIs designed to inhibit cancer cells have also effects on immune cells that are being discovered. Read More

Iran J Basic Med Sci 2022 Feb;25(2):134-147

Nanotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Immunotherapy is a novel preference for the treatment of various complex diseases. Considering the application of varying agents for suppression or activation of the immune system, immunogene therapy was confirmed to stand as a proper alternative for other immunotherapeutic strategies due to its capability in targeting cells with more specificity that leads to controlling the expression of therapeutic genes. This method facilitates the local and single-dose application of most gene therapies that result in the usage of high therapeutic doses with a low risk of systemic side effects while being cost-efficient in long-term administrations. Read More

Front Immunol 2022 16;13:884561. Epub 2022 May 16.

Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, South Korea.

Cancer immunotherapy targets the interplay between immune and cancer cells. In particular, interactions between cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and cancer cells, such as PD-1 () binding PD-L1 (), are crucial for cancer cell clearance. However, immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting these interactions are effective only in a subset of patients, requiring the identification of novel immunotherapy targets. Read More

Front Immunol 2022 16;13:882257. Epub 2022 May 16.

Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive type of brain tumor. Despite the multimodal therapies, the effectiveness of traditional treatments is not much satisfying. In recent years, immunotherapy has become the focus of tumor treatment. Read More

Acta Pharm Sin B 2022 May 9;12(5):2550-2567. Epub 2021 Nov 9.

Tongji School of Pharmacy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.

In the development of chemo-immunotherapy, many efforts have been focusing on designing suitable carriers to realize the co-delivery of chemotherapeutic and immunotherapeutic with different physicochemical properties and mechanisms of action. Besides, rapid drug release at the tumor site with minimal drug degradation is also essential to facilitate the antitumor effect in a short time. Here, we reported a cancer cell membrane-coated pH-responsive nanogel ([email protected]) to co-deliver chemotherapeutic paclitaxel (PTX) and immunotherapeutic agent interleukin-2 (IL-2) under mild conditions for combinational treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. Read More

mSphere 2022 Jun 1:e0013022. Epub 2022 Jun 1.

Early Vaccines and Immune Therapies, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA.

Nonhealing diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), a major complication of diabetes, are associated with high morbidity and mortality despite current standard of care. Since Staphylococcus aureus is the most common pathogen isolated from nonhealing and infected DFU, we hypothesized that S. aureus virulence factors would damage tissue, promote immune evasion and alter the microbiome, leading to bacterial persistence and delayed wound healing. Read More

Mol Divers 2022 May 28. Epub 2022 May 28.

Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, NH-8, Bandarsindri, Kishangarh, Ajmer, Rajasthan, 305817, India.

Immunotherapy is widely used to treat various cancers, and the drugs used are called immune checkpoint (ICP) inhibitors. Overexpression of immune cell checkpoints is reported for other human diseases such as acute infections (malaria), chronic viral infection (HIV, hepatitis B virus, TB infections), allergy, asthma, neurodegeneration, and autoimmune diseases. Some mAbs (monoclonal antibodies) are available against ICPs, but they have side effects. Read More

Front Immunol 2022 10;13:888313. Epub 2022 May 10.

Tumor-Immunobiology, Institute for Experimental Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.

Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial to various facets of human immunity and function through direct cytotoxicity or orchestration of the broader immune response. NK cells exist across a wide range of functional and phenotypic identities. Murine and human studies have revealed that NK cells possess substantial plasticity and can alter their function and phenotype in response to external signals. Read More

Cancer Commun (Lond) 2022 06 25;42(6):536-557. Epub 2022 May 25.

State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Department of Urology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, P. R. China.

Background: Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a promising immunotherapeutic agent owing to its powerful immune-activating effects. However, the clinical benefits of these treatments are limited. Crosstalk between tumor cells and immune cells plays an important role in immune escape and immunotherapy drug resistance. Read More

Semin Cancer Biol 2022 May 21. Epub 2022 May 21.

Department of Thoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China. Electronic address:

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC), originating from lung neuroendocrine stem cells, is a common pulmonary malignant tumor. SCLC, with poor prognoses, accounts for approximately 13-15% of all lung cancer cases. Due to the slow progress of clinical treatment, the 5-year survival rate of SCLC has remained below 7% for many years. Read More