-
Seminars in Cancer Biology Oct 2018Neuroblastoma is the most common pediatric solid tumor of neural crest origin. The current treatment options for neuroblastoma produce severe side effects. Programmed... (Review)
Review
Neuroblastoma is the most common pediatric solid tumor of neural crest origin. The current treatment options for neuroblastoma produce severe side effects. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), chronic inflammation, and non-coding RNAs are known to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of neuroblastoma. Cancer cells and the surrounding cells in the tumor microenvironment express PD-L1. Programmed death-1 (PD-1) is a co-receptor expressed predominantly by T cells. The binding of PD-1 to its ligands, PD-L1 or PD-L2, is vital for the physiologic regulation of the immune system. Chronic inflammation is involved in the recruitment of leukocytes, production of cytokines and chemokines that in turn, lead to survival, metastasis, and angiogenesis in neuroblastoma tumors. The miRNAs and long non-coding (lnc) RNAs have emerged as a novel class of non-coding RNAs that can regulate neuroblastoma associated cell-signaling pathways. The dysregulation of PD-1/PD-L1, inflammatory pathways, lncRNAs, and miRNAs have been reported in clinical and experimental samples of neuroblastoma. These signaling molecules are currently being evaluated for their potential as the biomarker and therapeutic targets in the management of neuroblastoma. A monoclonal antibody called dinutuximab (Unituxin) that attaches to a carbohydrate molecule GD2, on the surface of many neuroblastoma cells, is being used as an immunotherapy drug for neuroblastoma treatment. Atezolizumab (Tecentriq), an engineered monoclonal antibody against PD-L1, are currently in clinical trial for neuroblastoma patients. The lncRNA/miRNA-based therapeutics is being developed to deliver tumor suppressor lncRNAs/miRNAs or silencing of oncogenic lncRNAs/miRNAs. The focus of this review is to discuss the current knowledge on the immune checkpoint molecules, PD-1/PD-L1 signaling, inflammation, and non-coding RNAs in neuroblastoma.
Topics: Animals; B7-H1 Antigen; Humans; Inflammation; Medical Oncology; Neuroblastoma; RNA, Untranslated
PubMed: 29196189
DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2017.11.009 -
Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official... Aug 2021Induction therapy is a critical component of the therapy of high-risk neuroblastoma. We aimed to assess if the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) N5... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
PURPOSE
Induction therapy is a critical component of the therapy of high-risk neuroblastoma. We aimed to assess if the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) N5 induction regimen (MSKCC-N5) would improve metastatic complete response (mCR) rate and 3-year event-free survival (EFS) compared with rapid COJEC (rCOJEC; cisplatin [C], vincristine [O], carboplatin [J], etoposide [E], and cyclophosphamide [C]).
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Patients (age 1-20 years) with stage 4 neuroblastoma or stage 4/4s aged < 1 year with amplification were eligible for random assignment to rCOJEC or MSKCC-N5. Random assignment was stratified according to national group and metastatic sites. Following induction, therapy comprised primary tumor resection, high-dose busulfan and melphalan, radiotherapy to the primary tumor site, and isotretinoin with ch14.18/CHO (dinutuximab beta) antibody with or without interleukin-2 immunotherapy. The primary end points were mCR rate and 3-year EFS.
RESULTS
A total of six hundred thirty patients were randomly assigned to receive rCOJEC (n = 313) or MSKCC-N5 (n = 317). Median age at diagnosis was 3.2 years (range, 1 month to 20 years), and 16 were younger than 1 year of age with amplification. mCR rate following rCOJEC induction (32%, 86/272 evaluable patients) was not significantly different from 35% (99/281) with MSKCC-N5 ( = .368), and 3-year EFS was 44% ± 3% for rCOJEC compared with 47% ± 3% for MSKCC-N5 ( = .527). Three-year overall survival was 60% ± 3% for rCOJEC compared with 65% ± 3% for MSKCC-N5 ( = .379). Toxic death rates with both regimens were 1%. However, nonhematologic CTC grade 3 and 4 toxicities were higher with MSKCC-N5: 68% (193/283) versus 48% (129/268) ( < .001); infection 35% versus 25% ( = .011); stomatitis 25% versus 3% ( < .001); nausea and vomiting 17% versus 7% ( < .001); and diarrhea 7% versus 3% ( = .011).
CONCLUSION
No difference in outcome was observed between rCOJEC and MSKCC-N5; however, acute toxicity was less with rCOJEC, and therefore rCOJEC is the preferred induction regimen for International Society of Pediatric Oncology European Neuroblastoma Group.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Child, Preschool; Europe; Female; Humans; Induction Chemotherapy; Infant; Male; Neuroblastoma; Risk Factors; Young Adult
PubMed: 34152804
DOI: 10.1200/JCO.20.03144 -
Cancers Feb 2020Neuroblastoma (NBL) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in childhood. Despite intense treatment, children with this high-risk disease have a poor prognosis.... (Review)
Review
Neuroblastoma (NBL) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in childhood. Despite intense treatment, children with this high-risk disease have a poor prognosis. Immunotherapy showed a significant improvement in event-free survival in high-risk NBL patients receiving chimeric anti-GD2 in combination with cytokines and isotretinoin after myeloablative consolidation therapy. However, response to immunotherapy varies widely, and often therapy is stopped due to severe toxicities. Objective markers that help to predict which patients will respond or develop toxicity to a certain treatment are lacking. Immunotherapy guided via immune monitoring protocols will help to identify responders as early as possible, to decipher the immune response at play, and to adjust or develop new treatment strategies. In this review, we summarize recent studies investigating frequency and phenotype of immune cells in NBL patients prior and during current treatment protocols and highlight how these findings are related to clinical outcome. In addition, we discuss potential targets to improve immunogenicity and strategies that may help to improve therapy efficacy. We conclude that immune monitoring during therapy of NBL patients is essential to identify predictive biomarkers to guide patients towards effective treatment, with limited toxicities and optimal quality of life.
PubMed: 32102342
DOI: 10.3390/cancers12020519 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2022Relapsed/refractory high-risk neuroblastoma has a dismal prognosis. Anti-GD2-mediated chemo-immunotherapy has a notable anti-tumor activity in patients with...
BACKGROUND
Relapsed/refractory high-risk neuroblastoma has a dismal prognosis. Anti-GD2-mediated chemo-immunotherapy has a notable anti-tumor activity in patients with relapsed/refractory high-risk neuroblastoma. The purpose of this study was to analyze the efficacy and safety of the combination of immunotherapy with dinutuximab beta (DB) and chemotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory high-risk neuroblastoma.
METHODS
All patients received the Turkish Pediatric Oncology Group NB 2009 national protocol for HR-NB treatment at the time of diagnosis. Salvage treatments were administered after progression or relapse. The patients who could not achieve remission in primary or metastatic sites were included in the study. The most common chemotherapy scheme was irinotecan and temozolomide. DB was administered intravenously for 10 days through continuous infusion with 10 mg/m per day. The patients received 2 to 14 successive cycles with duration of 28 days each. Disease assessment was performed after cycles 2, 4, and 6 and every 2 to 3 cycles thereafter.
RESULTS
Between January 2020 and March 2022, nineteen patients received a total of 125 cycles of DB and chemotherapy. Objective responses were achieved in 12/19 (63%) patients, including complete remission in 6/19 and partial response in 6/19. Stable disease was observed in two patients. The remaining five patients developed bone/bone marrow and soft tissue progression after 2-4 cycles of treatment. The most common Grade ≥3 toxicities were leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, hypertransaminasemia, fever, rash/itching and capillary leak syndrome, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Our study results suggest that DB-based chemo-immunotherapy seems to be suitable with encouraging response rates in patients with relapsed/refractory high-risk neuroblastoma.
PubMed: 36620564
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1041443 -
Nature Reviews. Cancer Jun 2018Neuroblastoma is a rare solid tumour of infancy and early childhood with a disproportionate contribution to paediatric cancer mortality and morbidity. Combination... (Review)
Review
Neuroblastoma is a rare solid tumour of infancy and early childhood with a disproportionate contribution to paediatric cancer mortality and morbidity. Combination chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy remains the standard approach to treat high-risk disease, with few recurrent, actionable genetic aberrations identified at diagnosis. However, recent studies indicate that actionable aberrations are far more common in relapsed neuroblastoma, possibly as a result of clonal expansion. In addition, although the major validated disease driver, MYCN, is not currently directly targetable, multiple promising approaches to target MYCN indirectly are in development. We propose that clinical trial design needs to be rethought in order to meet the challenge of providing rigorous, evidence-based assessment of these new approaches within a fairly small patient population and that experimental therapies need to be assessed at diagnosis in very-high-risk patients rather than in relapsed and refractory patients.
Topics: 3-Iodobenzylguanidine; Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; Clinical Trials as Topic; GTP Phosphohydrolases; Humans; Immunotherapy; Membrane Proteins; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Mutation; N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Neuroblastoma; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11; Radiotherapy; Risk Assessment; Sample Size; X-linked Nuclear Protein
PubMed: 29632319
DOI: 10.1038/s41568-018-0003-x -
Journal of Immunology Research 2017Target selection is a key feature in cancer immunotherapy, a promising field in cancer research. In this respect, gangliosides, a broad family of structurally related... (Review)
Review
Target selection is a key feature in cancer immunotherapy, a promising field in cancer research. In this respect, gangliosides, a broad family of structurally related glycolipids, were suggested as potential targets for cancer immunotherapy based on their higher abundance in tumors when compared with the matched normal tissues. GD2 is the first ganglioside proven to be an effective target antigen for cancer immunotherapy with the regulatory approval of dinutuximab, a chimeric anti-GD2 therapeutic antibody. Although the therapeutic efficacy of anti-GD2 monoclonal antibodies is well documented, neuropathic pain may limit its application. -Acetyl-GD2, the -acetylated-derivative of GD2, has recently received attention as novel antigen to target GD2-positive cancers. The present paper examines the role of -acetyl-GD2 in tumor biology as well as the available preclinical data of anti--acetyl-GD2 monoclonal antibodies. A discussion on the relevance of -acetyl-GD2 in chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy development is also included.
Topics: Acetylation; Animals; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; Antigens, Neoplasm; Clinical Trials as Topic; Gangliosides; Humans; Immunotherapy; Neoplasms; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
PubMed: 28154831
DOI: 10.1155/2017/5604891 -
Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official... Jan 2021Anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody (mAb) has proven efficacy in high-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NB). A small phase I GD2/GD3 vaccine trial (n = 15) described long-term survival...
PURPOSE
Anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody (mAb) has proven efficacy in high-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NB). A small phase I GD2/GD3 vaccine trial (n = 15) described long-term survival and a favorable safety profile among patients with a history of disease progression (PD). The kinetics of mounting antibody response to vaccine and its prognostic impact on survival are now investigated in a phase II study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00911560).
PATIENTS AND METHODS
One hundred two patients with HR-NB who achieved remission after salvage therapies were enrolled in this trial. They received seven subcutaneous injections of GD2/GD3 vaccine spanning 1 year plus oral β-glucan starting at week 6 after the third dose of vaccine. Serum anti-vaccine antibody titers were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Kaplan-Meier and landmark Cox Regression models were used for survival estimates.
RESULTS
Patients had a history of one (63%), two (21%), or three to six (16%) episodes of PD. 82% of them progressed following anti-GD2 mAb (m3F8/dinutuximab/naxitamab) therapy. Vaccine-related toxicities were self-limited injection-associated local reactions and fever without any > grade 3 toxicities. The progression-free survival (PFS) was 32% ± 6%, and the overall survival (OS) was 71% ± 7% at 5 years. Serum anti-GD2 (immunoglobulin G1 [IgG1] and IgM) and anti-GD3 (IgG1) titers showed notable increases following the initiation of β-glucan at week 6. There was an association between IgG1 titer and SNP rs3901533 of dectin-1, the β-glucan receptor. Multivariable analyses showed that anti-GD2-IgG1 titer ≥ 150 ng/mL by week 8 was associated with favorable PFS and OS, while having prior episodes of PD and the time from last PD to vaccine were associated with PFS.
CONCLUSION
GD2/GD3 vaccine plus β-glucan elicited robust antibody responses in patients with HR-NB with prior PD. Higher anti-GD2-IgG1 titer was associated with improved survival.
Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Biomarkers; Brain Neoplasms; Cancer Vaccines; Child; Child, Preschool; Disease Progression; Female; Gangliosides; Glioblastoma; Humans; Immunogenicity, Vaccine; Immunoglobulin G; Infant; Lectins, C-Type; Male; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Progression-Free Survival; Time Factors; beta-Glucans
PubMed: 33326254
DOI: 10.1200/JCO.20.01892 -
Journal For Immunotherapy of Cancer Feb 2023In the Children's Oncology Group ANBL1221 phase 2 trial for patients with first relapse/first declaration of refractory high-risk neuroblastoma, irinotecan and...
KIR/KIR-ligand genotypes and clinical outcomes following chemoimmunotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma: a report from the Children's Oncology Group.
BACKGROUND
In the Children's Oncology Group ANBL1221 phase 2 trial for patients with first relapse/first declaration of refractory high-risk neuroblastoma, irinotecan and temozolomide (I/T) combined with either temsirolimus (TEMS) or immunotherapy (the anti-GD2 antibody dinutuximab (DIN) and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factory (GM-CSF)) was administered. The response rate among patients treated with I/T/DIN/GM-CSF in the initial cohort (n=17) was 53%; additional patients were enrolled to permit further evaluation of this chemoimmunotherapy regimen. Potential associations between immune-related biomarkers and clinical outcomes including response and survival were evaluated.
METHODS
Patients were evaluated for specific immunogenotypes that influence natural killer (NK) cell activity, including killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) and their ligands, Fc gamma receptors, and NCR3. Total white cells and leucocyte subsets were assessed via complete blood counts, and flow cytometry of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was performed to assess the potential association between immune cell subpopulations and surface marker expression and clinical outcomes. Appropriate statistical tests of association were performed. The Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons was performed where indicated.
RESULTS
Of the immunogenotypes assessed, the presence or absence of certain KIR and their ligands was associated with clinical outcomes in patients treated with chemoimmunotherapy rather than I/T/TEMS. While median values of CD161, CD56, and KIR differed in responders and non-responders, statistical significance was not maintained in logistic regression models. White cell and neutrophil counts were associated with differences in survival outcomes, however, increases in risk of event in patients assigned to chemoimmunotherapy were not clinically significant.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings are consistent with those of prior studies showing that KIR/KIR-ligand genotypes are associated with clinical outcomes following anti-GD2 immunotherapy in children with neuroblastoma. The current study confirms the importance of KIR/KIR-ligand genotype in the context of I/T/DIN/GM-CSF chemoimmunotherapy administered to patients with relapsed or refractory disease in a clinical trial. These results are important because this regimen is now widely used for treatment of patients at time of first relapse/first declaration of refractory disease. Efforts to assess the role of NK cells and genes that influence their function in response to immunotherapy are ongoing.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
NCT01767194.
Topics: Humans; Child; Ligands; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Neuroblastoma; Genotype; Receptors, KIR; Histocompatibility Antigens; Irinotecan; Immunotherapy; Recurrence
PubMed: 36822669
DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-006530 -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2021Extravasation can present serious accidental complication of intravenous drug application. While monoclonal antibodies do not show the necrotic potential of cytotoxic...
Extravasation can present serious accidental complication of intravenous drug application. While monoclonal antibodies do not show the necrotic potential of cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs, considerable inflammatory toxicity can occur, necessitating standardized operating procedures for the management of their extravasation. Here, we report the clinical course and management of dinutuximab beta extravasation in a 3-year-old child. Dinutuximab beta is a chimeric monoclonal antibody targeting the GD2 disialoganglioside on the surface of neuroblastoma cells that has in recent years gained significant importance in the treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma, now contributing to both first- and second-line therapy protocols. The dinutuximab beta extravasation reported here occurred when the patient received the antibody cycle as a continuous infusion over a 10-day period after haploidentical stem cell transplantation for relapsed high-risk neuroblastoma. The extravasated dinutuximab beta caused local pain, swelling, and hyperemia accompanied by fever and an overall deterioration in the general condition. Laboratory diagnostics demonstrated an increase in C-reactive protein level and total white blood cell count. Clinical complication management consisted of intravenous fluid therapy, local dabbing with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), analgesia with dipyrone, as well as application of intravenous antibiotics to prevent bacterial superinfection in the severely immunocompromised host. The patient considerably improved after six days with this treatment regimen and fully recovered by day 20.
PubMed: 33572828
DOI: 10.3390/children8020091 -
European Journal of Cancer (Oxford,... May 2024Addition of anti-GD2 antibodies to temozolomide-based chemotherapy has demonstrated increased antitumor activity and progression-free survival in patients with...
BACKGROUND
Addition of anti-GD2 antibodies to temozolomide-based chemotherapy has demonstrated increased antitumor activity and progression-free survival in patients with relapsed/progressive high-risk neuroblastoma. However, chemo-immunotherapy is not yet approved for this indication. This study presents the chemo-immunotherapy experience in patients with relapsed/progressive high-risk neuroblastoma treated within the off-label use program of the Neuroblastoma Committee of the French Society of Pediatric Oncology (SFCE).
METHODS
Dinutuximab beta (dB) was administered alongside temozolomide-topotecan (TOTEM) or temozolomide-irinotecan (TEMIRI) at first disease relapse/progression or topotecan-cyclophosphamide (TopoCyclo) at further relapse/progression. Real-world data on demographics, treatment, antitumor activity and safety was collected from all patients after inclusion in SACHA-France (NCT04477681), a prospective national registry, which documents safety and efficacy data on innovative anticancer therapies prescribed to patients ≤ 25 years old as compassionate or off-label use.
RESULTS
Between February 2021 and July 2023, 39 patients with confirmed relapsed/progressive high-risk neuroblastoma (median age 6 years, range 1-24) were treated with dB+TopoCyclo (n = 24) or dB+TOTEM/TEMIRI (n = 15) across 17 centers. In total, 163 chemo-immunotherapy cycles were administered, main toxicities were mild or moderate, with higher incidence of hematological adverse drug reactions with dB+TopoCyclo than dB+TOTEM/TEMIRI. Objective response rate was 42% for dB+TopoCyclo (CI95% 22-63%) and 40% for dB+TOTEM/TEMIRI (CI95% 16-68%).
CONCLUSION
Similar objective response rates for dB+TopoCyclo and dB+TOTEM/TEMIRI in patients with relapsed/progressive high-risk neuroblastoma emphasize the importance of chemo-immunotherapy, irrespective of the chemotherapy backbone.
Topics: Child; Humans; Infant; Child, Preschool; Adolescent; Young Adult; Adult; Topotecan; Temozolomide; Prospective Studies; Disease-Free Survival; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Neuroblastoma; Cyclophosphamide; Irinotecan; Immunotherapy; Recurrence; Antibodies, Monoclonal
PubMed: 38489858
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2024.114001