DNA damage repair gene mutations and their association with tumor immune regulatory gene expression in muscle invasive bladder cancer subtypes
ConclusionFindings from our study provide compelling evidence for co-expression of multiple immune checkpoint genes including,PD-1,PD-L1, IDO1, TIGIT, TIM-3, TGFB1, LAG3, and others, that potentially contribute to compensatory immune evasion in bladder tumors. Our findings also emphasize the urgent need for biomarker discovery approaches that combine molecular subtype, DDR gene mutation status, tumor immune landscape classification, and immune checkpoint gene expression to increase the number of patients responding to immunotherapies. (Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer)
Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer - June 6, 2019 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research

Targeting of M2-like tumor-associated macrophages with a melittin-based pro-apoptotic peptide
ConclusionTaken together, our study demonstrated that MEL-dKLA could be used to target M2-like TAMs as a promising cancer therapeutic agent. (Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer)
Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer - June 6, 2019 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research

Opportunities and challenges of active immunotherapy in dogs with B-cell lymphoma: a 5-year experience in two veterinary oncology centers
ConclusionsOverall, the addition of immunotherapy to a traditional CHOP protocol is associated with improved outcome in dogs with B-cell lymphoma, regardless of histotype and evaluated prognostic factors. Moreover, the identikit of the best candidate for immune-therapy was delineated for the most common histotypes. The study also confirms the excellent tolerability of the vaccine. (Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer)
Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer - June 6, 2019 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research

Final analyses of OPTiM: a randomized phase III trial of talimogene laherparepvec versus granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in unresectable stage III –IV melanoma
ConclusionsIn this final planned OPTiM analysis, talimogene laherparepvec continued to result in improved longer-term efficacy versus GM-CSF and remained well tolerated. The final analysis also confirms that talimogene laherparepvec was associated with durable CRs that were associated with prolonged survival.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier:NCT00769704. (Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer)
Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer - June 5, 2019 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research

PD-L1 detection using 89 Zr-atezolizumab immuno-PET in renal cell carcinoma tumorgrafts from a patient with favorable nivolumab response
ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first report of non-invasive detection of PD-L1 in renal cancer using molecular imaging. This study supports clinical evaluation of iPET to identify RCC patients with tumors deploying the PD-L1 checkpoint pathway who may be most likely to benefit from PD-1/PD-L1 disrupting drugs. (Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer)
Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer - June 2, 2019 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research

Improved efficacy against malignant brain tumors with EGFRwt/EGFRvIII targeting immunotoxin and checkpoint inhibitor combinations
ConclusionsThese data support the development of D2C7-IT and immune checkpoint blockade combinations for patients with malignant glioma. (Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer)
Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer - May 28, 2019 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research

Bispecific NKG2D-CD3 and NKG2D-CD16 fusion proteins for induction of NK and T cell reactivity against acute myeloid leukemia
ConclusionsTaken together, we here introduce novel “antibody-like” BFP that take advantage of the highly tumor-restricted expression of NKG2DL and potently activate the reactivity of NK cells or T cells for immunotherapy of AML. (Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer)
Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer - May 28, 2019 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research

Metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma and myasthenia gravis: contraindication for therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors?
ConclusionsPatients with a preexisting MG can be considered for treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors if they have a life-threatening cancer and if other effective, long-lasting treatment options are not available. The risks and benefits of therapy should be weighed in a multidisciplinary setting and should be discussed thoroughly with the patient. Exacerbation of underlying MG can be potentially life-threatening and requires close monitoring in collaboration with neuromuscular specialists. (Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer)
Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer - May 28, 2019 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research

Prognostic impact of immune gene expression signature and tumor infiltrating immune cells in localized clear cell renal cell carcinoma
ConclusionsRecurrence of ccRCC following surgery was associated with lower T cell infiltrate, lower adaptive immune response and higher neutrophil gene expression. Presence of higher Teff/Treg ratio correlated with lower recurrence. (Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer)
Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer - May 27, 2019 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research

Generation of monocyte-derived tumor-associated macrophages using tumor-conditioned media provides a novel method to study tumor-associated macrophages in vitro
ConclusionsLimited access to patient TAM highlights the need for methods to generate TAM in vitro. Our data confirm that monocyte-derived TAM can be generated reliably using TCM plus the cytokine cocktail of IL-4, IL-10, and M-CSF. Given the ability of TAM to inhibit immune cell function, continued study of methods to deplete or deactivate TAM in the setting of cancer are warranted. (Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer)
Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer - May 27, 2019 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research

Discovery of a novel natural killer cell line with distinct immunostimulatory and proliferative potential as an alternative platform for cancer immunotherapy
ConclusionNK101 is a unique NK cell line bearing strong immunostimulatory potential and substantial scalability, providing an attractive source for adoptive cancer immunotherapy. (Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer)
Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer - May 23, 2019 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research

Correction to: Vaccination with nanoparticles combined with micro-adjuvants protects against cancer
Following publication of the original article [1], the author reported an author ’s family name has been misspelled. Paul Engroff should be replace Paul Engeroff.Furthermore, there are two mistake in two affiliations: 9) Department of dermatology, University of Zurich, Bern, Switzerland and 10) Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Bern,Switzerland should be replace with 9) Department of dermatology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.10) Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. (Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer)
Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer - May 22, 2019 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research

Safety and enhanced immunostimulatory activity of the DRD2 antagonist ONC201 in advanced solid tumor patients with weekly oral administration
ConclusionsWeekly, oral ONC201 is well-tolerated and results in enhanced immunostimulatory activity that warrants further investigation.Trial registrationNCT02250781 (Oral ONC201 in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors),NCT02324621 (Continuation of Oral ONC201 in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors). (Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer)
Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer - May 21, 2019 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research

Level of neo-epitope predecessor and mutation type determine T cell activation of MHC binding peptides
ConclusionsThe classifier properties further highlight the contribution of the quantity of peptides reaching the ER and the mutation type to CD8  + T cell responses. These classifiers were then validated on neo-antigens obtained from other datasets, confirming the validity of our prediction.Algorithm Availability:http://peptibase.cs.biu.ac.il/Tcell_predictor/ or by request from the authors as a standalone code. (Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer)
Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer - May 21, 2019 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research

Selectively hampered activation of lymph node-resident dendritic cells precedes profound T cell suppression and metastatic spread in the breast cancer sentinel lymph node
ConclusionThese data thus provide new insights in the mechanisms underlying loco-regional immune suppression induced by BrC and how these relate to clinical outcome. They identify the LNR-cDC subset as a pivotal regulatory node in cellular immune suppressive pathways and therefore as a promising therapeutic target to combat immune suppression and secure the induction of effective antitumor immunity, e.g. in combination with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.   (Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer)
Source: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer - May 21, 2019 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research