We describe two water‐soluble ruthenium complexes, [1]Cl2 and [2]Cl2, that photodissociate to release a cytotoxic nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) inhibitor with a low dose (21 J cm−2) of red light in an oxygen‐independent manner. Using a specific NAMPT activity assay, up to an 18‐fold increase in inhibition potency was measured upon red‐light activation of [2]Cl2, while [1]Cl2 was thermally unstable. For the first time, the dark and red‐light‐induced cytotoxicity of these photocaged compounds could be tested under hypoxia (1 % O2). In skin (A431) and lung (A549) cancer cells, a 3‐ to 4‐fold increase in cytotoxicity was found upon red‐light irradiation for [2]Cl2, whether the cells were cultured and irradiated with 1 % or 21 % O2. These results demonstrate the potential of photoactivated chemotherapy for hypoxic cancer cells, in which classical photodynamic therapy, which relies on oxygen activation, is poorly efficient.

An understanding of interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME) of classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) has helped pave the way to novel immunotherapies that have enabled dormant and tumor-tolerant immune cells to be reactivated. The immunosuppressive nature of the TME in cHL specifically inhibits the proliferation and activity of natural killer (NK) cells, which contributes to tumor immune-escape mechanisms. This deficiency of NK cells begins at the tumor site and progresses systemically in patients with advanced disease or adverse prognostic factors. Several facets of cHL account for this effect on NK cells. Locally, malignant Reed–Sternberg cells and cells from the TME express ligands for inhibitory receptors on NK cells, including HLA-E, HLA-G, and programmed death-ligand 1. The secretion of chemokines and cytokines, including soluble IL-2 receptor (sCD25), Transforming Growth Factor-β, IL-10, CXCL9, and CXCL10, mediates the systemic immunosuppression. This review also discusses the potential reversibility of quantitative and functional NK cell deficiencies in cHL that are likely to lead to novel treatments.

We describe two water‐soluble ruthenium complexes, [1]Cl2 and [2]Cl2, that photodissociate to release a cytotoxic nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) inhibitor with a low dose (21 J cm−2) of red light in an oxygen‐independent manner. Using a specific NAMPT activity assay, up to an 18‐fold increase in inhibition potency was measured upon red‐light activation of [2]Cl2, while [1]Cl2 was thermally unstable. For the first time, the dark and red‐light‐induced cytotoxicity of these photocaged compounds could be tested under hypoxia (1 % O2). In skin (A431) and lung (A549) cancer cells, a 3‐ to 4‐fold increase in cytotoxicity was found upon red‐light irradiation for [2]Cl2, whether the cells were cultured and irradiated with 1 % or 21 % O2. These results demonstrate the potential of photoactivated chemotherapy for hypoxic cancer cells, in which classical photodynamic therapy, which relies on oxygen activation, is poorly efficient.

No abstract

In 14% of the patients, the band anatomy had to be removed. Seven years of intact band anatomy leads to a successful EWL of 61 +/- 4% and to EWL of > or = 50% in 68%. However, cumulative major reoperation rate of 32% in 7 years makes it mandatory to offer and discuss other bariatric procedures to the respective patients.

The interaction between acute myeloid leukemia cells (AML) with the bone marrow stroma cells (BMSCs) determines a protective environment that favors tumor development and resistance to conventional chemotherapy. We showed that BMSCs secrete soluble factors that protect AML cells from Ara-C induced cytotoxicity. This leukemia chemoresistance is associated with a decrease in the equilibrative nucleoside transporter (ENT1) activity by inducing removal of ENT1 from the cell surface. Reduction of cell proliferation was also observed with activation of AKT and mTOR-dependent cell survival pathways, which may also contribute to the tumor chemoprotection. Analysis of primary BMSC cultures has demonstrated that AML patients with stroma capable to confer Ara-C resistance in vitro compared to AML patients without this stroma capacity were associated with a worse prognosis. The two year overall survival rate was 0% versus 80% respectively (p=0.0001). This is the first report of a chemoprotection mechanism based on the removal of a drug transporter from the cell surface and most importantly the first time that a stroma phenotype has correlated with prognostic outcome in cancer.

The inclusion of genes that control cell fate (so-called suicide, or kill-switch, genes) into gene therapy vectors is based on a compelling rationale for the safe and selective elimination of aberrant transfected cells. Prodrug-activated systems were developed in the 1980s and 1990s and rely on the enzymatic conversion of non-active prodrugs to active metabolites that lead to cell death. Although considerable effort and ingenuity has gone into vector design for gene therapy, less attention has been directed at the efficacy or associated adverse effects of the prodrug systems employed. In this review, we discuss prodrug systems employed in clinical trials and consider their role in the field of gene therapy. We highlight potential drawbacks associated with the use of specific prodrugs, such as systemic toxicity of the activated compound, the paucity of data on biodistribution of prodrugs, bystander effects, and destruction of genetically modified cells, and how these can inform future advances in cell therapies. Prodrug-activated gene therapyEarly gene therapy trials carried out for monogenic diseases, such as severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) and alpha 1-antitypsin deficiency, initially focused on replacing a single deficient or mutated gene with a normal copy. However, the safety concerns inherent in cellular therapy were highlighted when 4 of 10 patients treated with gene therapy for SCID developed acute T cell lymphoblastic leukemia as the result of insertional mutagenesis into the host genome. 4 One strategy to mitigate potential adverse effects (AEs) caused by genetically modified cells is to include a cell-fate control system, such as a suicide gene, in the transfer vector; thus, a second transgene accompanies the gene of interest and acts as a suicide switch that allows transduced cells to be destroyed when exposed to a particular signal. 1,5 Several mechanisms can be used to control cell fate in this way (Figure 1). Prodrug-activated gene therapy (PAGT) strategies aim to enable the selective, on-demand destruction of transduced cells. A suicide transgene that encodes an enzyme is introduced into a target cell, and the transduced cell then becomes able to convert

CD123 (IL-3Rα) is frequently expressed by malignant Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) cells. Naked monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against HL lack clinical benefit, partially due to absence of natural killer (NK) cells in the tumor microenvironment. Here we show that the combination of a fully humanized anti-CD123 mAb (CSL362) and high-affinity Fcγ-receptor NK-92 cells (haNK) effectively target and kill HL cells in vitro. First, we confirmed high expression of CD123 in 2 of the 3 HL cell lines (KM-H2 and L-428), and its absence in NK cells. Cytotoxicity of haNK cells against CD123-positive HL cells was significantly higher in the presence of CSL362. This was also shown with IL-15-activated primary NK cells, although haNK cells showed a 10.87-fold lower estimated half-maximal stimulatory effective concentration (EC50). CSL362 facilitated a significant increase in the expression of CD107a, intracellular IFN-γ and TNF-α and enhanced expression of c-JUN, PLD-1, and ARF6 by NK cells. Inhibition of the ARF6–PLD-1 axis (NAV2729), but not of the MAPK pathway (U0126), completely abrogated CSL362-facilitated antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) in haNK and activated primary NK cells. Our results support CD123 as an immunotherapeutic target for HL and the combination of NK cells and CSL362 as a treatment strategy for HL.