Review
Immunology
Qian Li, Jingjing Han, Yonglin Yang, Yu Chen
Summary: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high prevalence and mortality rate worldwide. In recent years, immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors, particularly targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis, has brought fundamental changes to the treatment of advanced HCC. However, challenges remain and combination therapy may be a better option to improve the low remission rate.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Moritz Klawitter, Ali El-Ayoubi, Jasmin Buch, Jakob Ruettinger, Maximilian Ehrenfeld, Eva Lichtenegger, Marcel A. Krueger, Klaus Mantwill, Florestan J. Koll, Markus C. Kowarik, Per Sonne Holm, Ulrike Naumann
Summary: Oncolytic virotherapy (OVT) is a promising approach for the treatment of glioblastoma (GBM), and this study investigates the immunostimulatory effects of a YB-1 dependent oncolytic adenovirus (XVir-N-31) in comparison to wildtype adenovirus. The results show that XVir-N-31 induces immunogenic cell death and increases tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and NK cells in a mouse model. Combining OVT with immune checkpoint inhibition further enhances lymphocyte infiltration and reduces contralateral non-virus-injected tumors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Yuhei Miyasaka, Hiro Sato, Naoko Okano, Nobuteru Kubo, Hidemasa Kawamura, Tatsuya Ohno
Summary: Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Radiotherapy has achieved significant technical advances and is widely used in the management of lung cancer. The anti-tumor effect of radiotherapy is mainly caused by DNA damage in cancer cells. Additionally, radiotherapy induces anti-tumor immune responses, but also suppresses the immune system. Combining radiotherapy with immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors, shows promise in overcoming immunosuppressive conditions in lung cancer patients. Particle therapy using protons and carbon ions in combination with immunotherapy is also a promising treatment strategy according to evidence outlined in this review.
Article
Oncology
Steven H. Sun, Colin D. Angell, Himanshu Savardekar, Debasish Sundi, David Abood, Brooke Benner, Mallory J. DiVincenzo, Megan Duggan, Fouad Choueiry, Thomas Mace, Prashant Trikha, Gabriella Lapurga, Courtney Johnson, Erick J. Carlson, Catherine Chung, Blake R. Peterson, Jing Zhao, Kari L. Kendra, William E. Carson III
Summary: Inhibition of BTK activation reduces the activation of tumor-associated suppressor cells and improves the therapeutic response to anti-PD-L1 antibody, enhancing the immunotherapy of advanced melanoma.
CANCER IMMUNOLOGY IMMUNOTHERAPY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Juan Wang, Jingxin Zhang, Weitao Wen, Fei Wang, Meng Wu, Dawei Chen, Jinming Yu
Summary: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have greatly improved cancer treatment, but the response rates are still not satisfactory. Low-dose radiotherapy (LDRT) has been shown to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy by activating anti-tumor immunity. This paper reviews the strategies and potential opportunities of using LDRT to overcome resistance to ICIs, as well as the history, mechanisms, and challenges associated with this form of treatment.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Hampartsoum B. Barsoumian, Duygu Sezen, Hari Menon, Ahmed I. Younes, Yun Hu, Kewen He, Nahum Puebla-Osorio, Mark Wasley, Ethan Hsu, Roshal R. Patel, Liangpeng Yang, Maria A. Cortez, James W. Welsh
Summary: This study proposes a novel treatment approach that combines high- and low-dose radiation with immune oncology agents to overcome obstacles in cancer therapy. The results demonstrate that this method can effectively prolong the survival of mice and inhibit tumor growth and metastasis.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Zhengqing Lei, Weihu Ma, Anfeng Si, Yuhua Zhang, Facai Yang, Qiushi Yu, Haolan Tang, Qianru Xiao, Jiahua Zhou, Kui Wang, Yufu Tang, Tao Han, Guowen Yin, Jinhong Chen, Xiufeng Liu, Hua Zhao, Decai Yu, Tao Luo, Qing Wang, Maolin Yan, Xianhai Mao, Jing Li, Kai Wang, Jingdong Li, Yongyi Zeng, Dequan Ding, Tingsong Chen, Xiaofeng Wu, Yongxiang Xia, Kang Wang, Weixing Guo, Guangyu Zhu, Shan Gao, Norbert Hueser, Wan Y. Lau, Tianqiang Song, Shuqun Cheng, Feng Shen, Zhangjun Cheng
Summary: This study compared the efficacy of different anti-PD-1 combination therapies as the first-line treatment for uICC. The results showed that ICI-chemo and ICI-target therapies had better survival outcomes and fewer adverse events compared to chemotherapy. ICI-target-chemo had similar efficacy to ICI-chemo but resulted in more adverse events.
ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Haniyeh Ghaffari-Nazari, Masoumeh Alimohammadi, Reza Alimohammadi, Elham Rostami, Mohsen Bakhshandeh, Thomas J. Webster, Ghanbar Mahmoodi Chalbatani, Jalil Tavakkol-Afshari, Seyed Amir Jalali
Summary: Radiotherapy can induce immune-mediated responses in local irradiated tumors, and non-irradiated distant metastasis is termed the abscopal effect.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Zihan Zhao, Siyang Liu, Rui Sun, Wenjie Zhu, Yulin Zhang, Tianyao Liu, Tianhang Li, Ning Jiang, Hongqian Guo, Rong Yang
Summary: Bladder cancer is a highly malignant tumor with limited improvement in prognosis and survival rates. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of bladder cancer, but their clinical application is limited by low response rates. This study investigated the combination of oxaliplatin and anti-PD-1 inhibitor in bladder cancer mouse models and found that this combination therapy was more efficient than medication alone.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Rom Leidner, Kevin Conlon, Douglas G. Mcneel, Andrea Wang-Gillam, Sumati Gupta, Robert Wesolowski, Monica Chaudhari, Nadia Hassounah, Jong Bong Lee, Lang Ho Lee, Jessica A. O'Keeffe, Nancy Lewis, George N. Pavlakis, John A. Thompson
Summary: This study investigated the efficacy and safety of NIZ985 as monotherapy and in combination with spartalizumab in the treatment of advanced solid tumors. The results showed that NIZ985 demonstrated antitumor activity and was well tolerated in patients with advanced solid tumors.
JOURNAL FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Alexander H. Shannon, Ashish Manne, Dayssy A. Diaz Pardo, Timothy M. Pawlik
Summary: Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is a common cancer with high mortality worldwide. Recent advancements in immune check point inhibitors (ICI) combined with radiotherapy have shown potential in the treatment of nonresectable HCC. ICI modulates the tumor microenvironment to inhibit tumor progression, while radiotherapy enhances its efficacy by manipulating the tumor microenvironment and reducing tumor resistance. Future directions include addressing challenges and exploring combination therapies.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Dickran Kazandjian, Alexander Dew, Elizabeth Hill, Elizabeth Gil Ramirez, Candis Morrison, Esther Mena, Liza Lindenberg, Constance Yuan, Irina Maric, Hao-Wei Wang, Katherine Calvo, Alina Dulau-Florea, Joseph Roswarski, Michael Emanuel, Raul Braylan, Baris Turkbey, Peter Choyke, Kevin Camphausen, Maryalice Stetler-Stevenson, Seth M. Steinberg, William D. Figg, Jennifer Jones
Summary: The combination of avelumab and radiotherapy for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma and extramedullary disease showed limited systemic clinical benefit, although patients still benefited from local radiotherapy. The combination was well tolerated compared to historical treatment regimens for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Haifen Luo, Wen Ma, Qi Chen, Zhen Yang, Yunlu Dai
Summary: Radiotherapy can induce immune responses in the tumor microenvironment, but it can also increase immune suppressor cells, limiting its effectiveness. Nanomedicine can deliver immunoadjuvants to block immune suppression and improve the combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy.
Article
Oncology
Stefano Pierini, Abhishek Mishra, Renzo Perales-Linares, Mireia Uribe-Herranz, Silvia Beghi, Andrea Giglio, Sergei Pustylnikov, Francesca Costabile, Stavros Rafail, Augusto Amici, John G. Facciponte, Costantinos Koumenis, Andrea Facciabene
Summary: The combination of RT with heterologous TEM1 vaccination reduces the progression of irradiated and distant tumors. RT increases MHCI expression on endothelial cells, enhancing immune recognition and causing severe vascular damage. Heterologous TEM1 vaccine and RT boost TAA cross-priming and augment PD-1/PD-L1 signaling within tumors.
JOURNAL FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Alexandra Aicher, Anca Sindrilaru, Diana Crisan, Wolfgang Thaiss, Jochen Steinacker, Meinrad Beer, Thomas Wiegel, Karin Scharffetter-Kochanek, Ambros J. Beer, Vikas Prasad
Summary: This study tested a novel therapeutic approach, SILD-PRRT in combination with PD-1 ICI, to treat elderly patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor-resistant neuroendocrine skin cancer, and achieved some therapeutic effects.
Article
Oncology
J. M. Herter, M. Kiljan, S. Kunze, M. Reinscheid, O. Ibruli, J. Cai, L. Niu, I Hesselmann, M. Trommer, G. S. Herter-Sprie, C. Koehler, S. Marnitz
Summary: This study aims to explore the value of immunotherapy in the treatment of cervical cancer. Through analysis of patients' blood and tumor samples, the study found that chemoradiation significantly alters the immune cell composition and immune checkpoint receptor expression in cervical tumors. At the end of therapy, the expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 in tumors was significantly reduced, indicating that neoadjuvant or simultaneous use of anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 treatment may provide better treatment efficacy.
STRAHLENTHERAPIE UND ONKOLOGIE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Niklas Kuhl, Andreas Linder, Nora Philipp, Daniel Nixdorf, Hannah Fischer, Simon Veth, Gunnar Kuut, Teng Teng Xu, Sebastian Theurich, Thomas Carell, Marion Subklewe, Veit Hornung
Summary: The cGAS-STING signaling pathway is functional in human T cells and can contribute to antiviral immunity, but its activation negatively affects T cell function.
Article
Dermatology
Katharina Schumann, Cornelia Mauch, Kai-Christian Klespe, Carmen Loquai, Ulrike Nikfarjam, Max Schlaak, Larissa Akcetin, Peter Koelblinger, Magdalena Hoellwerth, Markus Meissner, Guelcin Mengi, Andreas Dominik Braun, Miriam Mengoni, Reinhard Dummer, Joanna Mangana, Mihaela-Anca Sindrilaru, Dan Radmann, Christine Hafner, Johann Freund, Klemens Rappersberger, Felix Weihsengruber, Frank Meiss, Lydia Reinhardt, Friedegund Meier, Barbara Rainer, Erika Richtig, Julia Maria Ressler, Christoph Hoeller, Thomas Eigentler, Teresa Amaral, Wiebke K. Peitsch, Uwe Hillen, Wolfgang Harth, Fabian Ziller, Kerstin Schatton, Thilo Gambichler, Laura Susok, Lara Valeska Maul, Heinz Laubli, Dirk Debus, Carsten Weishaupt, Sevil Boerger, Katharina Sievers, Sebastian Haferkamp, Veronika Zenderowski, Van Anh Nguyen, Marina Wanner, Ralf Gutzmer, Patrick Terheyden, Katharina Kaehler, Steffen Emmert, Alexander Thiem, Michael Sachse, Silke Gercken-Riedel, Kjell Matthias Kaune, Kai-Martin Thoms, Lucie Heinzerling, Markus Vincent Heppt, Sabine Tratzmiller, Wolfram Hoetzenecker, Angela Oellinger, Andreas Steiner, Tobias Peinhaupt, Maurizio Podda, Sabine Schmid, Uwe Wollina, Tilo Biedermann, Christian Posch
Summary: This real-world study examines the clinical outcomes of adjuvant melanoma treatment using PD-1 antibodies and BRAF + MEK inhibitors in specialized skin cancer centers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The results show that patients treated with PD-1 antibodies have a lower 12-month recurrence rate compared to patients treated with BRAF + MEK inhibitors. Additionally, PD-1 antibody treatment is not affected by BRAF mutation status.
JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY AND VENEREOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Dermatology
Alexander Thiem, Pegah Mashhadiakbar, Christiane Cussigh, Jessica C. Hassel, Imke Grimmelmann, Ralf Gutzmer, Max Schlaak, Markus Heppt, Pia Duecker, Svea Huening, Lena Schulmeyer, Bastian Schilling, Sebastian Haferkamp, Mirjana Ziemer, Rose K. C. Moritz, Victoria Hagelstein, Patrick Terheyden, Christian Posch, Maria R. Gaiser, Peter Kropp, Steffen Emmert, Britta Mueller, Julia K. Tietze
Summary: This study investigated the impact of disease and treatment on the daily life of patients receiving systemic therapy for melanoma. The results showed that immune checkpoint inhibition might be preferred over targeted therapy in terms of quality of life and adverse events in the adjuvant setting, and older patients with melanoma were less impacted by their disease and more satisfied with their treatment.
JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY AND VENEREOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Julia Simoes Correa Galendi, Ann-Cathrine Siefen, Debora M. M. Moretti, Sin Yuin Yeo, Holger Gruell, Grischa Bratke, Alessio Giuseppe Morganti, Alberto Bazzocchi, Chiara Gasperini, Francesca De Felice, Roberto Blanco Sequeiros, Mira Huhtala, Ingrid M. M. Nijholt, Martijn F. F. Boomsma, Clemens Bos, Helena M. M. Verkooijen, Dirk Mueller, Stephanie Stock
Summary: Magnetic resonance imaging-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MR-HIFU) is an innovative treatment for painful bone metastases. However, its adoption is influenced by various factors, and addressing these factors from different clusters is crucial for its widespread use.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Sin Yuin Yeo, Grischa Bratke, Holger Gruell
Summary: High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) is a non-invasive method for ablating tumors and treating painful bone lesions. It has been used for pain relief in bone metastases and primary tumors for 20 years, as well as for local treatment of bone tumors. This review summarizes 20 years of literature on HIFU treatment of bone malignancies, focusing on pain palliation, treatment efficacy, and safety.
Review
Oncology
Paul Trinkner, Sophie Guenther, Ina Monsef, Eva Kerschbaum, Michael von Bergwelt-Baildon, David M. Cordas dos Santos, Sebastian Theurich
Summary: This meta-analysis suggests that body composition is associated in a sex-specific manner with survival and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in cancer patients undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. Overweight/obesity is significantly associated with better progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), but a higher risk of developing irAEs grade >3. Sarcopenic patients have significantly shorter PFS and OS, but the frequency of irAEs does not differ.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhe Peng, Bernhard Gillissen, Antje Richter, Tobias Sinnberg, Max S. Schlaak, Juergen Eberle
Summary: Targeting MAP kinase pathways through BRAF inhibitors has shown promise in treating BRAF-mutated melanoma. However, this approach is ineffective for BRAF-WT melanoma, and relapse often occurs after initial regression. Inhibiting MAP kinase pathways downstream at ERK1/2 or targeting antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins like Mcl-1 may provide alternative strategies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Sebastian Moench, Maurice M. M. Heimer, Michael Winkelmann, Anne Guertler, Max Schlaak, Amanda Tufman, Najib Ben Khaled, Enrico de Toni, Christoph B. B. Westphalen, Michael von Bergwelt-Baildon, Julien Dinkel, Philipp M. M. Kazmierczak, Michael Ingrisch, Nabeel Mansour, Marcus Unterrainer, Lucie Heinzerling, Jens Ricke, Wolfgang G. G. Kunz
Summary: This study aims to reveal the imaging features of pseudoprogression (PsPD) and its association with other relevant findings. PsPD occurred most frequently at the first follow-up after initiation of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment. The two most prevalent reasons for PsPD were progression of target lesions (TL) and non-target lesions (NTL), with an increase in TL diameter commonly below + 100%. These findings may guide decision-making of ICI continuation in suspected PsPD patients.
Article
Oncology
Raphael Bodensohn, Simone Werner, Jonas Reis, Montserrat Pazos Escudero, Anna -Lena Kaempfel, Indrawati Hadi, Robert Forbrig, Farkhad Manapov, Stefanie Corradini, Claus Belka, Sebastian Theurich, Lucie Heinzerling, Max Schlaak, Maximilian Niyazi
Summary: This study aims to analyze the impact of the timing of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) on toxicity in melanoma brain metastases (MBM) patients receiving combined immune checkpoint therapy with ipilimumab and nivolumab (IPI + NIVO). The results show that a maximum time period of seven days between SRS and IPI + NIVO is significantly associated with increased risk of toxicity.
CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL RADIATION ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Joergen C. Becker, Selma Ugurel, Ulrike Leiter, Friedegund Meier, Ralf Gutzmer, Sebastian Haferkamp, Lisa Zimmer, Elisabeth Livingstone, Thomas K. Eigentler, Axel Hauschild, Felix Kiecker, Jessica C. Hassel, Peter Mohr, Michael Fluck, Ioannis Thomas, Marlene Garzarolli, Imke Grimmelmann, Konstantin Drexler, Alexandra N. Spillner, Sebastian Eckhardt, Dirk Schadendorf
Summary: This multicentre phase 2 trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of adjuvant immune checkpoint inhibition in completely resected Merkel cell carcinoma. The results showed clinical benefit in terms of disease-free survival at 12 and 24 months with nivolumab treatment. However, overall survival results were not yet mature. The explorative data support the continuation of ongoing, randomised trials in this field.
Article
Oncology
Elias A. T. Koch, Anne Petzold, Anja Wessely, Edgar Dippel, Markus Eckstein, Anja Gesierich, Ralf Gutzmer, Jessica C. Hassel, Harald Knorr, Nicole Kreuzberg, Ulrike Leiter, Carmen Loquai, Friedegund Meier, Markus Meissner, Peter Mohr, Claudia Pfoehler, Farnaz Rahimi, Dirk Schadendorf, Max Schlaak, Kai-Martin Thoms, Selma Ugurel, Jochen Utikal, Michael Weichenthal, Beatrice Schuler-Thurner, Carola Berking, Markus V. Heppt
Summary: Metastases of uveal melanoma predominantly spread to the liver. Liver-directed therapies (LDT) are commonly used for tumor control in patients with low response rates to systemic therapies. This study compared the outcomes of patients with metastatic UM treated with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), with and without LDT, and found that the combination of LDT with ICB was associated with longer overall survival, improved progression-free survival, and higher treatment response rates.
FRONTIERS OF MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Surgery
Alexander Urbanski, Julia Minnemann, Cornelia Mauch, Thomas Schmidt, Nicole Kreuzberg, Max Schlaak, Christiane J. J. Bruns, Dirk L. L. Stippel, Roger Wahba
Summary: Malignant melanoma is a tumor with increasing incidence in Germany. Advanced stages of melanoma have a poor prognosis, but resection of visceral metastases and surgical therapy for oligometastatic patients may improve outcomes.
LANGENBECKS ARCHIVES OF SURGERY
(2023)
Article
Dermatology
Ephsona Shencoru, Max Schlaak
Summary: Although people with darker skin tones have lower rates of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer compared to those with fairer skin tones, there is a higher rate of misdiagnosis and delay in diagnosis in people of color, leading to an increased risk of worse treatment outcomes for these patients.
Article
Oncology
Sven Nouwens, Maarten Paulides, Johannes Lindemeyer, Lukas Sebeke, Ricky van Kampen, Holger Gruell, Maurice Heemels
Summary: This study proposes a new frequency-domain estimation method for quality assurance in thermal therapy, which can provide unbiased estimates of specific absorption rate (SAR) and thermal diffusivity. By periodically modulating the power of focused ultrasound and recording the response with MRI thermometry, spatial Fourier coefficients are used to estimate the thermal response and parameters. The experimental results show that this method has a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and reproducible estimates, with insensitivity to B 0 drift and non-steady-state initial temperature distributions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYPERTHERMIA
(2023)