Cancer immunotherapy comprises different therapeutic strategies that exploit the use of distinct components of the immune system, with the common goal of specifically targeting and eradicating neoplastic cells. These varied approaches include the use of specific monoclonal antibodies, checkpoint inhibitors, cytokines, therapeutic cancer vaccines and cellular anticancer strategies such as activated dendritic cell (DC) vaccines, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and, more recently, genetically engineered T cells. Each one of these approaches has demonstrated promise, but their generalized success has been hindered by the paucity of specific tumor targets resulting in suboptimal tumor responses and unpredictable toxicities. This review will concentrate on recent advances on the use of engineered T cells for adoptive cellular immunotherapy (ACI) in cancer.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both genders worldwide, with an incidence only second to prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women. The lethality of the disease highlights the urgent need for innovative therapeutic options. Immunotherapy can afford efficient and specific targeting of tumor cells, improving efficacy and reducing the side effects of current therapies. We have previously reported the aberrant expression of cancer/testis antigens (CTAs) in tumors of unrelated histological origin. In this study we investigated the expression and immunogenicity of the CTAs, Sperm Protein 17 (SP17), A-kinase anchor protein 4 (AKAP4) and Pituitary Tumor Transforming Gene 1 (PTTG1) in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines and primary tumors. We found that SP17, AKAP4 and PTTG1 are aberrantly expressed in cancer samples, compared to normal lung cell lines and tissues. We established the immunogenicity of these CTAs by measuring CTA-specific autoantibodies in patients' sera and generating CTA-specific autologous cytotoxic lymphocytes from patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Our results provide proof of principle that the CTAs SP17/AKAP4/PTTG1 are expressed in both human NSCLC cell lines and primary tumors and can elicit an immunogenic response in lung cancer patients.

No abstract

RLIP76 (RAL-binding protein-1, Rlip) is a stress-protective mercapturic-acid-pathway transporter protein that also plays a key role in regulating clathrin-dependent endocytosis as a Ral effector. Targeted inhibition or depletion of Rlip causes regression of xenografts of many cancers and is capable of abrogating tumor formation in p53-null mice. This is associated with the reversion of the abnormal methylomic profile of p53-null mice to wild-type. In a query of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases, we found that Rlip expression was associated with poor survival and with significant differences in the frequencies of PIK3CA mutation, MYC amplification, and CDKN2A/B deletion, which were the most commonly mutated, amplified, and deleted genes, respectively, among TCGA breast cancer patients. We conducted the present study to further examine the effects of Rlip inhibition and to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo efficacy in breast cancer. Using immunogold electron microscopy, we found that plasma-membrane Rlip was accessible to cell-surface antibodies in the MCF7 (ER+) breast cancer cell line. Rlip depletion resulted in decreased survival of MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells and increased terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) positivity and DNA laddering, indicating apoptotic cell death. Additionally, in vitro knockdown of Rlip inhibited EGF endocytosis and WNT/MAPK signaling. Xenograft studies in nude mice showed regression of breast cancer via antisense-mediated depletion of Rlip mRNA as well as by anti-Rlip antibody. Finally, knockdown of Rlip by antisense locked nucleic acid oligonucleotides increased markers for apoptotic signaling and decreased markers for proliferation, angiogenesis, and cell cycling in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231luc xenografts. Our findings validate Rlip as an attractive target in breast cancer.

Over the past 30 years, human papilloma virus (HPV) has been shown to play a role in the development of various cancers. Most notably, HPV has been linked to malignant progression in neoplasms of the anogenital region. However, high-risk HPV has also been suggested to play a significant role in the development of cancers in other anatomic locations, such as the head and neck, lung, breast and bladder. In 2006, the first vaccine for HPV, Gardasil, was approved for the prevention of subtypes 6, 11, 16 and 18. A few years later, Cevarix was approved for the prevention of subtypes 16 and 18, the HPV subtypes most frequently implicated in malignant progression. Although increased awareness and vaccination could drastically decrease the incidence of HPV-positive cancers, these approaches do not benefit patients who have already contracted HPV and developed cancer as a result. For this reason, researchers need to continue developing treatment modalities, such as targeted immunotherapies, for HPV-positive lesions. Here, we review the potential evidence linking HPV infection with the development of non-anogenital cancers and the potential role of immunotherapy in the prevention and eradication of HPV infection and its oncogenic sequela.

No abstract

To explore whether Paget's disease (PD) has an effect on outcome in patients with breast cancer. Design: Retrospective analysis of comprehensive pathology database, medical records, and slides of samples showing pathologic features.

Sirtuins belong to the class III family of NAD-dependent histone deacetylases (HDAC) and are involved in diverse physiological processes that range from regulation of metabolism and endocrine function to coordination of immunity and cellular responses to stress. Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) is the most well-studied family member and has been shown to be critically involved in epigenetics, immunology, and endocrinology. The versatile roles of SIRT1 include regulation of energy sensing metabolic homeostasis, deacetylation of histone and non-histone proteins in numerous tissues, neuro-endocrine regulation via stimulation of hypothalamus-pituitary axes, synthesis and maintenance of reproductive hormones via steroidogenesis, maintenance of innate and adaptive immune system via regulation of T-and B-cell maturation, chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Moreover, SIRT1 is an appealing target in various disease contexts due to the promise of pharmacological and/or natural modulators of SIRT1 activity within the context of endocrine and immune-related disease models. In this review we aim to provide a broad overview on the role of SIRT1 particularly within the context of endocrinology and immunology.