Blockade of the protein-protein interaction between the transmembrane protein programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L1 has emerged as a promising immunotherapy for treating cancers. Using the technology of mirror-image phage display, we developed the first hydrolysis-resistant D-peptide antagonists to target the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway. The optimized compound (D) PPA-1 could bind PD-L1 at an affinity of 0.51 μM in vitro. A blockade assay at the cellular level and tumor-bearing mice experiments indicated that (D) PPA-1 could also effectively disrupt the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction in vivo. Thus D-peptide antagonists may provide novel low-molecular-weight drug candidates for cancer immunotherapy.

No abstract

Di Biase et al. show for the first time that creatine acts as a “molecular battery” conserving bioenergy to power CD8 T cell activities; that creatine uptake is critical in supporting antitumor T cell immunity; and that creatine supplementation holds promise for improving cancer immunotherapy.

Highlights d HSC-iNKT cell therapy can provide patients with a lifelong supply of iNKT cells d HSC-iNKT cell therapy can potentially be utilized to treat a broad range of cancers d HSC-iNKT cells can target tumor cells through multiple mechanisms d A preclinical study demonstrated feasibility, safety, and cancer therapy potential

Targeting tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) is a promising strategy to modify the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and improve cancer immunotherapy. Monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) is an enzyme best known for its function in the brain; small molecule MAO inhibitors (MAOIs) are clinically used for treating neurological disorders. Here we observe MAO-A induction in mouse and human TAMs. MAO-A-deficient mice exhibit decreased TAM immunosuppressive functions corresponding with enhanced antitumor immunity. MAOI treatment induces TAM reprogramming and suppresses tumor growth in preclinical mouse syngeneic and human xenograft tumor models. Combining MAOI and anti-PD-1 treatments results in synergistic tumor suppression. Clinical data correlation studies associate high intratumoral MAOA expression with poor patient survival in a broad range of cancers. We further demonstrate that MAO-A promotes TAM immunosuppressive polarization via upregulating oxidative stress. Together, these data identify MAO-A as a critical regulator of TAMs and support repurposing MAOIs for TAM reprogramming to improve cancer immunotherapy.

Invasion and metastasis are the major causes of death in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical step in tumor progression and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) signaling has been shown to play an important role in EMT. In this study, we investigated how TGF-β1 signaling pathways contributed to EMT in three ESCC cell lines as well as 100 patients of nomadic ethnic Kazakhs residing in northwest Xinjiang Province of China. In vitro analyses included Western blotting to detect the expression of TGF-β1/Smad and EMT-associated proteins in Eca109, EC9706 and KYSE150 cell lines following stimulation with recombinant TGF-β1 and SB431542, a potent inhibitor of ALK5 that also inhibits TGF-β type II receptor. TGF-β-activated Smad2/3 signaling in EMT was significantly upregulated as indicated by mesenchymal markers of N-cadherin and Vimentin, and in the meantime, epithelial marker, E-cadherin, was markedly downregulated. In contrast, SB431542 addition downregulated the expression of N-cadherin and Vimentin, but upregulated the expression of E-cadherin. Moreover, the TGF-β1-induced EMT promoted invasion capability of Eca109 cells. Tumor cells undergoing EMT acquire fibroblastoid-like phenotype. Expressed levels of TGF-β1/Smad signaling molecules and EMT-associated proteins were examined using immunohistochemical analyses in 100 ESCC tissues of Kazakh patients and 58 matched noncancerous adjacent tissues. The results showed that ESCC tissues exhibited upregulated expression of TGF-β1/Smad. We also analyzed the relationship between the above proteins and the patients' clinicopathological characteristics. The TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway in human Eca109 ESCC cells may carry similar features as in Kazakh ESCC patients, suggesting that TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway may be involved in the regulation of EMT in ethnic Kazakh patients with ESCC from Xinjiang, China.

Monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) is an enzyme best known for its function in the brain, where it breaks down neurotransmitters and thereby influences mood and behavior. Small-molecule MAO inhibitors (MAOIs) have been developed and are clinically used for treating depression and other neurological disorders. However, the involvement of MAO-A in antitumor immunity has not been reported. Here, we observed induction of the Maoa gene in tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Maoa knockout mice exhibited enhanced antitumor T cell immunity and suppressed tumor growth. MAOI treatment significantly suppressed tumor growth in preclinical mouse syngeneic and human xenograft tumor models in a T cell–dependent manner. Combining MAOI and anti–PD-1 treatments generated synergistic tumor suppression effects. Clinical data correlation studies associated intratumoral MAOA expression with T cell dysfunction and decreased patient survival in a broad range of cancers. We further demonstrated that MAO-A restrains antitumor T cell immunity through controlling intratumoral T cell autocrine serotonin signaling. Together, these data identify MAO-A as an immune checkpoint and support repurposing MAOI antidepressants for cancer immunotherapy.

The outcome of sonodynamic immunotherapy is significantly limited by tumor hypoxia. To overcome this obstacle, one common solution is to catalyze the conversion of endogenous H 2 O 2 into O 2 . However, the effectiveness of this strategy is limited by the insufficient concentration of H 2 O 2 in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Herein, we developed a H 2 O 2 economizer for on-demand O 2 supply and sonosensitizer-mediated reactive oxygen species production during ultrasound activation, thereby alleviating hypoxia-associated limitations and augmenting the efficacy of sonodynamic immunotherapy. Methods: The H 2 O 2 economizer is constructed by electrostatic adsorption and π-π interactions between the Fe-doped polydiaminopyridine (Fe-PDAP) nanozyme and chlorin e6. By employing a biomimetic engineering strategy with cancer cell membranes, we addressed the premature leakage issue and increased tumor-site accumulation of nanoparticles (membrane-coated Fe-PDAP/Ce6, MFC). Results: The prepared MFC could significantly attenuate the catalytic activity of Fe-PDAP by reducing their contact with H 2 O 2 . Ultrasound irradiation promoted MFC dissociation and the exposure of Fe-PDAP for a more robust O 2 supply. Moreover, the combination of MFC-enhanced sonodynamic therapy with anti-programmed cell death protein-1 antibody (aPD-1) immune checkpoint blockade induced a strong antitumor response against both primary tumors and distant tumors. Conclusion: This as-prepared H 2 O 2 economizer significantly alleviates tumor hypoxia via reducing H 2 O 2 expenditure and that on-demand oxygen-elevated sonodynamic immunotherapy can effectively combat tumors.