| 1. |
- Backman, Max, et al.
(author)
-
Extending the immune phenotypes of lung cancer: Oasis in the desert
-
Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Introduction: Tumor infiltrating immune cells are key elements of the tumor microenvironment and mediate the anti-tumor effects of immunotherapy. The aim of the study was to characterize patterns of immune cell infiltration in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in relation to tumor mutations and clinicopathological parameters. Methods: Lymphocytes (CD4+, CD8+, CD20+, FOXP3+, CD45RO+), macrophages (CD163+), plasma cells (CD138+), NK cells (NKp46+) and PD-L1+ were annotated on a tissue microarray including 357 operated NSCLC cases. Somatic mutations and tumor mutational burden were analyzed by targeted sequencing for 82 genes, and transcriptomic immune patterns were established in 197 patients based on RNAseq data. Results: We identified somatic mutations (TP53, NF1, KEAP1, CSMD3, LRP1B) that correlated with specific immune cell infiltrates. Hierarchical clustering revealed four immune classes: with (1) high immune cell infiltration (“inflamed”), (2) low immune cell infiltration (“desert”), (3) a mixed phenotype, and (4) a new phenotype with an overall muted inflammatory cell pattern but with an imprint of NK and plasma cells. This latter class exhibited low expression of immune response-related genes (e.g. CXCL9, GZMB, INFG, TGFB1), but was linked to better survival and therefore designated “oasis”. Otherwise, the four immune classes were not related to the presence of specific mutations (EGFR, KRAS, TP53) or histologic subtypes. Conclusion: We present a compartment-specific immune cell analysis in the context of the molecular and clinical background of NSCLC and identified the novel immune class “oasis”. The immune classification helps to better define the immunogenic potency of NSCLC in the era of immunotherapy.
|
|
| 2. |
- Backman, Max, et al.
(author)
-
Infiltration of NK and plasma cells is associated with a distinct immune subset in non‐small cell lung cancer
- 2021
-
In: Journal of Pathology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0022-3417 .- 1096-9896. ; 255:3, s. 243-256
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Immune cells of the tumor microenvironment are central but erratic targets for immunotherapy. The aim of this study was to characterize novel patterns of immune cell infiltration in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in relation to its molecular and clinicopathologic characteristics. Lymphocytes (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD20+, FOXP3+, CD45RO+), macrophages (CD163+), plasma cells (CD138+), NK cells (NKp46+), PD1+, and PD-L1+ were annotated on a tissue microarray including 357 NSCLC cases. Somatic mutations were analyzed by targeted sequencing for 82 genes and a tumor mutational load score was estimated. Transcriptomic immune patterns were established in 197 patients based on RNA sequencing data. The immune cell infiltration was variable and showed only poor association with specific mutations. The previously defined immune phenotypic patterns, desert, inflamed, and immune excluded, comprised 30, 13, and 57% of cases, respectively. Notably, mRNA immune activation and high estimated tumor mutational load were unique only for the inflamed pattern. However, in the unsupervised cluster analysis, including all immune cell markers, these conceptual patterns were only weakly reproduced. Instead, four immune classes were identified: (1) high immune cell infiltration, (2) high immune cell infiltration with abundance of CD20+ B cells, (3) low immune cell infiltration, and (4) a phenotype with an imprint of plasma cells and NK cells. This latter class was linked to better survival despite exhibiting low expression of immune response-related genes (e.g. CXCL9, GZMB, INFG, CTLA4). This compartment-specific immune cell analysis in the context of the molecular and clinical background of NSCLC reveals two previously unrecognized immune classes. A refined immune classification, including traits of the humoral and innate immune response, is important to define the immunogenic potency of NSCLC in the era of immunotherapy. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
|
|
| 3. |
- Basmo Ellingsen, Espen, et al.
(author)
-
Telomerase as a Target for Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines and Considerations for Optimizing Their Clinical Potential
- 2021
-
In: Frontiers in Immunology. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 1664-3224. ; 12
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Telomerase-based therapeutic cancer vaccines (TCVs) have been under clinical investigation for the past two decades. Despite past failures, TCVs have gained renewed enthusiasm for their potential to improve the efficacy of checkpoint inhibition. Telomerase stands as an attractive target for TCVs due to its almost universal presence in cancer and its essential function promoting tumor growth. Herein, we review tumor telomerase biology that may affect the efficacy of therapeutic vaccination and provide insights on optimal vaccine design and treatment combinations. Tumor types possessing mechanisms of increased telomerase expression combined with an immune permissive tumor microenvironment are expected to increase the therapeutic potential of telomerase-targeting cancer vaccines. Regardless, rational treatment combinations, such as checkpoint inhibitors, are likely necessary to bring out the true clinical potential of TCVs.
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
| 5. |
- Burman, Joachim, 1974-
(author)
-
Curing Multiple Sclerosis : How to do it and how to prove it
- 2014
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a potentially curative treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) with now more than 600 documented cases in the medical literature. Long-term remission can be achieved with this therapy, but when is it justified to claim that a patient is cured from MS? In attempt to answer this question, the outcome of the Swedish patients is described, mechanisms behind the therapeutic effect are discussed and new tools for demonstration of absence of disease have been developed.In Swedish patients treated with HSCT for aggressive MS, disease free survival was 68 % at five years, and no patient progressed after three years of stable disease. Presence of gadolinium enhancing lesions prior to HSCT was associated with a favorable outcome (disease free survival 79 % vs 46 %, p=0.028). There was no mortality and no patient required intensive care.The immune system of twelve of these patients was investigated further. In most respects HSCT-treated patients were similar to healthy controls, demonstrating normalization. In the presence of a potential antigen, leukocytes from HSCT-treated patients ceased producing pro-inflammatory IL-17 and increased production of the inhibitory cytokine TGF-β1 suggesting restoration of tolerance.Cytokine levels and biomarkers of tissue damage were investigated in cerebrospinal fluid from a cohort of MS patients. The levels were related to clinical and imaging findings. A cytokine signature of patients with relapsing-remitting MS could be identified, characterized by increased levels of CCL22, CXCL10, sCD40L, CXCL1 and CCL5 as well as down-regulation of CCL2. Further, we could demonstrate that active inflammation in relapsing-remitting MS is a tissue damaging process, with increased levels of myelin basic protein and neurofilament light. Importantly, relapsing-remitting MS patients in remission displayed no tissue damage. In secondary progressive MS, moderate tissue damage was present without signs of active inflammation.From a clinical vantage point, it seems that we confidently can claim cure of relapsing-remitting MS patients after five years absence of disease activity. The new tools for evaluation of disease can strengthen this assertion and may enable earlier prediction of outcome.
|
|
| 6. |
- Burman, Joachim, et al.
(author)
-
T-cell responses after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for aggressive relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
- 2013
-
In: Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0019-2805 .- 1365-2567. ; 140:2, s. 211-219
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis is a potentially curative treatment, which can give rise to long-term disease remission. However, the mode of action is not yet fully understood. The aim of the study was to evaluate similarities and differences of the CD4(+) T-cell populations between HSCT-treated patients (n = 12) and healthy controls (n = 9). Phenotyping of memory T cells, regulatory T (Treg) cells and T helper type 1 (Th1) and type 17 (Th17) cells was performed. Further, T-cell reactivity to a tentative antigen, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, was investigated in these patient populations. Patients treated with natalizumab (n = 15) were included as a comparative group. White blood cells were analysed with flow cytometry and T-cell culture supernatants were analysed with magnetic bead panel immunoassays. HSCT-treated patients had similar levels of Treg cells and of Th1 and Th17 cells as healthy subjects, whereas natalizumab-treated patients had lower frequencies of Treg cells, and higher frequencies of Th1 and Th17 cells. Cells from HSCT-treated patients cultured with overlapping peptides from myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein produced more transforming growth factor-beta(1) than natalizumab-treated patients, which suggests a suppressive response. Conversely, T cells from natalizumab-treated patients cultured with those peptides produced more interleukin-17 (IL-17), IL-1 and IL-10, indicating a Th17 response. In conclusion, we demonstrate circumstantial evidence for the removal of autoreactive T-cell clones as well as development of tolerance after HSCT. These results parallel the long-term disease remission seen after HSCT.
|
|
| 7. |
- Burman, Joachim, et al.
(author)
-
The cerebrospinal fluid cytokine signature of multiple sclerosis : A homogenous response that does not conform to the Th1/Th2/Th17 convention
- 2014
-
In: Journal of Neuroimmunology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0165-5728 .- 1872-8421. ; 277:1-2, s. 153-159
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this cross-sectional study, we wanted to identify key cytokines characteristic of different stages of multiple sclerosis (MS). To this end, cerebrospinal fluid from patients with MS was investigated with a multiplexed fluorescent bead-based immunoassay. In total 43 cytokines were assessed and related to clinical and imaging data. Increased levels of CCL22, CXCL10 and sCD40L characterized relapsing-remitting MS patients with the presence of gadolinium-enhancing lesions; decreased CCL2 and increased CXCL1 and CCL5 were typical of relapsing-remitting MS patients irrespectively of the presence of gadolinium-enhancing lesions. These homogenous patterns of cytokine activation do not conform to conventional Th1/Th2/Th17 responses. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
|
|
| 8. |
- Burman, Joachim, 1974-, et al.
(author)
-
The cerebrospinal fluid cytokine signature of multiple sclerosis: a homogenous response that does not conform to the Th1/Th2/Th17 convention
-
Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- In this cross-sectional study, we wanted to identify key cytokines characteristic of different stages of multiple sclerosis (MS) that could be used as an outcome measure in clinical trials. To this end, cerebrospinal fluid from a cohort of patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and secondary progressive MS (SPMS) was investigated with a multiplexed fluorescent bead-based immunoassay. In total 43 cytokines were assessed and related to clinical and imaging data. Cerebrospinal fluid from a separate confirmatory cohort was used to validate cytokines pertinent to SPMS. Increased levels of CCL22, CXCL10 and sCD40L characterized RRMS patients with presence of gadolinium-enhancing lesions; decreased CCL2 and increased CXCL1 and CCL5 were typical of RRMS patients irrespectively of presence of gadolinium-enhancing lesions. IL-15 and IL-27 were increased in SPMS patients, but non-significantly in the confirmation cohort. These homogenous patterns of cytokine activation do not conform to conventional Th1/Th2/Th17 responses.
|
|
| 9. |
|
|
| 10. |
|
|
