• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.12
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• pp.869-883
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• 2019

Interleukin (IL)-15 is an essential immune-modulator with high potential for use in cancer treatment. Natural IL-15 has a low biological potency because of its short half-life and difficulties in mass-production. IL-15Rα, a member of the IL-15 receptor complex, is famous for its high affinity to IL-15 and its ability to lengthen the half-life of IL-15. We have double-transfected IL-15 and its truncated receptor IL-15Rα into CT26 colon cancer cells to target them for intracellular assembly. The secreted IL-15:IL-15Rα complexes were confirmed in ELISA and Co-IP experiments. IL-15:IL-15Rα secreting clones showed a higher anti-tumor effect than IL-15 secreting clones. Furthermore, we also evaluated the vaccine and therapeutic efficacy of the whole cancer-cell vaccine using mitomycin C (MMC)-treated IL-15:IL-15Rα secreting CT26 clones. Three sets of experiments were evaluated; (1) therapeutics, (2) vaccination, and (3) long-term protection. Wild-type CT26-bearing mice treated with a single dose of MMC-inactivated secreted IL-15:IL-15Rα clones prolonged survival compared to the control group. Survival of MMC-inactivated IL-15:IL-15Rα clone-vaccinated mice (without any further adjuvant) exceeded up to 100%. This protection effect even lasted for at least three months after the immunization. Secreted IL-15:IL-15Rα clones challenging trigger anti-tumor response via CD4⁺ T, CD8⁺ T, and natural killer (NK) cell-dependent cytotoxicity. Our result suggested that cell-based vaccine secreting IL-15:IL-15Rα, may offer the new tools for immunotherapy to treat cancer.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.163-171
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• 2005

Background: To perform the successful dendritic cell-based cancer immunotherapy one of the main issues to be solved is the source of antigen for DC pulsing. Limitations occur by using auto-tumor lysate due to the difficulties obtaining enough tumor tissue(s) quantitatively as well as qualitatively. In this study the possibility of allogeneic tumor cell lysate as a DC pulsing antigen has been tested in mouse melanoma pulmonary me tastasis model. Methods: B16F10 melanoma cells $(1{\timeS}10^5/mouse)$ were inoculated intra venously into the C57BL/6 mouse. Therapeutic DCs were cultured from the bone marrow myeloid lineage cells with GM-CSF and IL-4 (1,000 U/ml each) for 7 days and pulsed with lysate of either autologous B16F10 (B-DC), allogeneic K1735 (C3H/He origin; K-DC) or CloneM3 (DBA2 origin; C-DC) melanoma cells for 18 hrs. Pulsed-DCs $(1{\times}10^6/mouse)_{[CGP1]}$ were injected i.p. twice with one week interval starting from the day 1 after tumor cell inoculation. Results: Without observable toxicity, allogeneic tumor cell lysate pulsed-DC induced the significantly better anti-tumor response (tumor scale: $2.7{\pm}0.3,\;0.7{\pm}0.3\;and\;0.3{\pm}0.2$ for saline, B-DC and C-DC treated group, respectively). Along with increased tumor specific lymphocyte proliferations, induction of IFN-${\gamma}$ secretion against both auto- and allo-tumor cell lysates was observed from the DC treated mice. (w/B16F10-lysate: $44.97{\pm}10.31,\;1787.94{\pm}131.18,\;1257.15{\pm}48.27$, w/CloneM3 lysate: 0, $1591.13{\pm}1.83,\;1460.47{\pm}86.05pg/ml$ for saline, B-DC and C-DC treated group, respectively) Natural killer cell activity was also increased in the mice treated with tumor cell lysate pulsed-DC ($8.9{\pm}_{[CGP2]}0.1,\;11.6{\pm}0.8\;and\;12.6{\pm}0.7%$ specific NK activity for saline, B-DC and C-DC treated group, respectively). Conclusion: Conclusively, promising data were obtained that allogeneic-tumor cell lysate can be used as a tumor antigen for DC-based cancer immunotherapy.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.23.1-23.16
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• 2021

Chemokines are key factors that influence the migration and maintenance of relevant immune cells into an infected tissue or a tumor microenvironment. Therefore, it is believed that the controlled administration of chemokines in the tumor microenvironment may be an effective immunotherapy against cancer. Previous studies have shown that CCL3, also known as macrophage inflammatory protein 1-alpha, facilitates the recruitment of dendritic cells (DCs) for the presentation of tumor Ags and promotes T cell activation. Here, we investigated the role of CCL3 in regulating the tumor microenvironment using a syngeneic mouse tumor model. We observed that MC38 tumors overexpressing CCL3 (CCL3-OE) showed rapid regression compared with the wild type MC38 tumors. Additionally, these CCL3-OE tumors showed an increase in the proliferative and functional tumor-infiltrating T cells. Furthermore, PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade accelerated tumor regression in the CCL3-OE tumor microenvironment. Next, we generated a modified CCL3 protein for pre-clinical use by fusing recombinant CCL3 (rCCL3) with a non-cytolytic hybrid Fc (HyFc). Administering a controlled dose of rCCL3-HyFc via subcutaneous injections near tumors was effective in tumor regression and improved survival along with activated myeloid cells and augmented T cell responses. Furthermore, combination therapy of rCCL3-HyFc with PD-1 blockade exhibited prominent effect to tumor regression. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that appropriate concentrations of CCL3 in the tumor microenvironment would be an effective adjuvant to promote anti-tumor immune responses, and suggest that administering a long-lasting form of CCL3 in combination with PD-1 blockers can have clinical applications in cancer immunotherapy.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.350-355
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• 2021

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is a severe autoimmune paraneoplastic syndrome associated with ovarian teratomas. Most patients develop neurologic symptoms, including psychosis, memory deficits, seizures, or abnormal movements, and experience abdominal pain related to ovarian neoplasm. We present a case report of three patients diagnosed with anti-NMDAR encephalitis accompanied by ovarian teratomas at Ajou University Hospital in Korea. The patients demonstrated a different clinical course of the disease. However, upon diagnosis, all patients underwent surgical removal of the ovarian teratoma followed by intensive immunotherapy. The symptoms progressively improved following treatment. This is a case report of a rare autoimmune anti-NMDAR encephalitis associated with ovarian neoplasms, including immature teratoma.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.37-48
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• 2024

Liposomes are one of the most actively studied and promising drug delivery systems for the treatment of various diseases. In this study, an aptamer-conjugated liposome called "aptamosome" was used, in which an anti-PD-L1 aptamer targeting cancer cells was conjugated to the liposome. These aptamosomes showed remarkable cellular uptake and efficient delivery to Lewis lung carcinoma 2 (LL/2) cancer cells. In addition, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), was delivered through this aptamer to induce a strong anticancer immunotherapeutic effect. The results of this study showed that when LL/2 cells were treated with SAHA-entrapped aptamosome [SAHA] and liposome [SAHA] and free SAHA, aptamosome [SAHA] improved cell death compared with that of liposomes [SAHA] or free SAHA, and it has demonstrated anticancer efficacy. Moreover, aptamosome [SAHA] induce the secretion of chemokines that promote the migration of activated T cells into tumor tissues. Finally, in vivo experiments showed that aptamosome [SAHA] significantly inhibited the growth rate of LL/2 tumors. Therefore, liposomes combined with an anti-PD-L1 aptamer for efficient SAHA delivery are suggested as an excellent model for drug delivery systems suitable for targeting cancer cells.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.3
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• pp.179-189
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• 2019

Although recent advances in molecular targeted therapy and immuno-oncology have revolutionized the landscape of lung cancer therapeutics, cytotoxic chemotherapy remains an essential component of lung cancer treatment. Extensive evidence has demonstrated the clinical benefit of chemotherapy, either alone or in combination with other treatment modalities, on survival and quality of life of patients with early and advanced lung cancer. Combinational approaches with other classes of anti-neoplastic agents and new drug-delivery systems have revealed promising data and are areas of active investigation. Chemotherapy is recommended as a standard of care in patients that have progressed after tyrosine kinase inhibitors or immune checkpoint inhibitors. Chemotherapy remains the fundamental means of lung cancer management and keeps expanding its clinical implication. This review will discuss the current position and future role of chemotherapy, and specific consideration for its clinical application in the era of precision medicine.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.493-509
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• 2015

Antibody-drug conjugates utilize the antibody as a delivery vehicle for highly potent cytotoxic molecules with specificity for tumor-associated antigens for cancer therapy. Critical parameters that govern successful antibody-drug conjugate development for clinical use include the selection of the tumor target antigen, the antibody against the target, the cytotoxic molecule, the linker bridging the cytotoxic molecule and the antibody, and the conjugation chemistry used for the attachment of the cytotoxic molecule to the antibody. Advancements in these core antibody-drug conjugate technology are reflected by recent approval of Adectris$^{(R)}$(anti-CD30-drug conjugate) and Kadcyla$^{(R)}$(anti-HER2 drug conjugate). The potential approval of an anti-CD22 conjugate and promising new clinical data for anti-CD19 and anti-CD33 conjugates are additional advancements. Enrichment of antibody-drug conjugates with newly developed potent cytotoxic molecules and linkers are also in the pipeline for various tumor targets. However, the complexity of antibody-drug conjugate components, conjugation methods, and off-target toxicities still pose challenges for the strategic design of antibody-drug conjugates to achieve their fullest therapeutic potential. This review will discuss the emergence of clinical antibody-drug conjugates, current trends in optimization strategies, and recent study results for antibody-drug conjugates that have incorporated the latest optimization strategies. Future challenges and perspectives toward making antibody-drug conjugates more amendable for broader disease indications are also discussed.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.247-252
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• 2012

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth commonest cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. However, no adequate therapy for pancreatic cancer has yet been found. In this study, the antitumor activity of cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells against the human pancreatic cancer was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cultured with IL-2-containing medium in anti-CD3 for 14 days. The resulting populations of CIK cells comprised 94% $CD3^+$, 4% $CD3^-CD56^+$, 41% $CD3^+CD56^+$, 11% $CD4^+$, and 73% $CD8^+$. This heterogeneous cell population was called cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells. At an effector-target cell ratio of 100 : 1, CIK cells destroyed 51% of AsPC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells, as measured by the $^{51}Cr$-release assay. In addition, CIK cells at doses of 3 and 10 million cells per mouse inhibited 42% and 70% of AsPC-1 tumor growth in nude mouse xenograft assays, respectively. This study suggests that CIK cells may be used as an adoptive immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer patients.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.36-44
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• 2005

Background: The anti-tumor therapeutic effect of autologous tumor cell lysate pulseddendritic cells (DCs) was studied for non-immunogenic and immune suppressive lung cancer model. To test the possibility as an adjuvant therapy, minimal residual disease model was considered in mouse in vivo experiments. Methods: Syngeneic 3LL lung cancer cells were inoculated intravenously into the C57BL/6 mouse. Autologous tumor cell (3LL) or allogeneic leukemia cell (WEHI-3) lysate pulsed-DCs were injected twice in two weeks. Intraperitoneal DC injection was started one day (MRD model) after tumor cell inoculation. Two weeks after the final DC injection, tumor formation in the lung and the tumor-specific systemic immunity were observed. Tumor-specific lymphocyte proliferation and the IFN-${\gamma}$ secretion were analyzed for the immune monitoring. Therapeutic DCs were cultured from the bone marrow myeloid lineage cells with GM-CSF and IL-4 for 7 days and pulsed with tumor cell lysate for 18 hrs. Results: Compared to the saline treated group, tumor formation was suppressed in 3LL tumor cell lysate pulsed-DC treated group, while 3LL-specific immune stimulation was minimum. WEHI-3-specific immune stimulation occurred in WEHI-3 lysate-pulsed DC treated group, which had no correlation with tumor regression. Conclusion: The data suggest the possible anti-tumor effect of cultured DCs as an adjuvant therapy for minimal residual disease state of lung cancer. The significance of immune modulation in DC therapy including the possible involvement of NK cell as well as antigen-specific cytotoxic T cell activity induction was discussed.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2001

The identification of tumor-specific antigens has represented a critical milestone in cancer diagnosis and therapy. Clinical research in this area for leukemia has also been driven over the past few decades by the hope that surface antigens with restricted tissue expression would be identified. Disappointingly, only a small number of the leukemic antigens identified to date, meet sufficient criteria to be considered viable immunophenotypic markers. In this paper, we nominate anti-JL1 monoclonal antibody as an immunodiagnostic and immunotherapeutic candidate for leukemia. The JL1 molecule appears to be a novel cell surface antigen, which is strictly confined to a subpopulation of limited stages during the hematopoietic differentiation process. Despite the restricted distribution of the JL1 antigen in normal tissues and cells, anti-JL1 monoclonal antibody specifically recognizes various types of leukemia, irrespective of immunophenotypes. On the basis of these findings, we propose JL1 antigen as a tumor-specific marker, which shows promise as a candidate molecule for diagnosis and immunotherapy in leukemia, and one that spares normal bone marrow stem cells.