Dust mite allergen-specific immunotherapy increases IL4 DNA methylation and induces Der p-specific T cell tolerance in children with allergic asthma

Allergen-specific immunotherapy(allergen-SIT)is a highly effective treatment for children with allergic asthma(AA),an immune-mediated chronic disease leading to bronchial muscle hypertrophy and airway obstruction in response to specific allergens.T helper cells and secreted cytokines play important roles in the pathogenesis of asthma,and epigenetic modulation controls genes important for T cell development and cytokine expression.This study evaluated T helper cell-secreted cytokines and DNA methylation patterns in children treated with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus(Der p)allergen-SIT.Our results showed that after Der p challenge,peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)from the SIT group,compared with the non-SIT AA group,produced lower levels of IL-4,IL-5 and IL-2.The SIT group,compared with the AA group,exhibited decreased sensitivity to the Der p allergen,concurrent with IL-4 down-modulation due to increased promoter DNA methylation,as estimated in PBMCs.Our results showed that SIT decreased IL-4 and IL-5,and inhibited T cell proliferation,by inhibiting IL-2 production after the specific allergen challenge.These results suggest that decreased IL-2 production and increased IL-4 cytokine promoter methylation is a potential mechanism of Der p-specific allergen desensitization immunotherapy.

Effects of dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen-specific immunotherapy on the serum interleukin-13 and pulmonary functions in asthmatic children

Background Airway remodeling is the specific pathological characteristics of asthma, which is related to the clinical symptoms, pulmonary function, and airway hyperreactivity. This study aimed at exploring the effects of dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen-specific immunotherapy （SIT） on the serum interleukin （IL）-13 and pulmonary functions in asthmatic children. Methods Fifty-eight pediatric asthma patients allergic to dust mite participated in this study. Thirty-five children received SIT with a standardized dermatophgoides pteronyssinus extract for one year （SIT group）, and the other 23 children treated with inhaled corticosteroids （ICS group） according to the Global Initiative for Asthma （GINA） for one year. Serum levels of IL-13, IL-4 and interferon （IFN）-γ were examined and the pulmonary functions were checked before and after the treatment. Results After the treatment, the number of emergency visiting for asthma attack in SIT group was significantly less than that in ICS group. The serum levels of IL-4 and IL-13 were clearly reduced, IFN-γ and the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 were significantly increased, the pulmonary functions （forced vital capacity （FVC）, forced expiratory volume in one second percentage （FEV1%） and peak expiratory flow percentage （PEF%） were significantly improved in the SIT group. Meanwhile, IFN-γ and the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 were greatly increased, but serum levels of IL-4 and IL-13 had less changes, the pulmonary functions （FVC, FEV1% and PEF%） were poorly improved in ICS group. The basic pulmonary functions in both groups were at the same level, which had made more improvement in SIT group than in ICS group one year later. Conclusions One year of dermatophagoides pteronyssinus SIT can significantly reduce the frequencies of emergency visiting for asthma attack and improve the pulmonary functions of children with allergic asthma, and that is attributed to SIT, which can reduce the levels of IL-4 and IL-13 and regulate the imbalance of the Th1/Th2 cells in asthmatic children. All of these might be effective in preventing the asthmatic airway from remodeling.

Unlocking the future:Mitochondrial genes and neural networks in predicting ovarian cancer prognosis and immunotherapy response

BACKGROUND Mitochondrial genes are involved in tumor metabolism in ovarian cancer(OC)and affect immune cell infiltration and treatment responses.AIM To predict prognosis and immunotherapy response in patients diagnosed with OC using mitochondrial genes and neural networks.METHODS Prognosis,immunotherapy efficacy,and next-generation sequencing data of patients with OC were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus.Mitochondrial genes were sourced from the MitoCarta3.0 database.The discovery cohort for model construction was created from 70% of the patients,whereas the remaining 30% constituted the validation cohort.Using the expression of mitochondrial genes as the predictor variable and based on neural network algorithm,the overall survival time and immunotherapy efficacy(complete or partial response)of patients were predicted.RESULTS In total,375 patients with OC were included to construct the prognostic model,and 26 patients were included to construct the immune efficacy model.The average area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the prognostic model was 0.7268[95% confidence interval(CI):0.7258-0.7278]in the discovery cohort and 0.6475(95%CI:0.6466-0.6484)in the validation cohort.The average area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the immunotherapy efficacy model was 0.9444(95%CI:0.8333-1.0000)in the discovery cohort and 0.9167(95%CI:0.6667-1.0000)in the validation cohort.CONCLUSION The application of mitochondrial genes and neural networks has the potential to predict prognosis and immunotherapy response in patients with OC,providing valuable insights into personalized treatment strategies.

Mimotope-based allergen-specific immunotherapy: ready for prime time?

INTRODUCTION Allergen-specific immunotherapy(AIT)is a therapeutic strategy to restore the normal immune response by suppressing inflammatory effector cells and inducing regulatory cells specific to the culprit allergen.Conventionally,AIT is achieved by administering escalating doses of allergen over a long treatment course.However,the use of unmodified allergens for AIT often results in severe anaphylactic side effects,and alternative approaches such as hypoallergens and T-cell epitopes with enhanced safety have been considered.The use of mimotopes in AIT is a relatively new concept,but earlier proof-ofconcept studies showed promising results for mimotopes,with decent safety profiles and immunomodulatory capacity1.While the treatment of cancer with mimotope-based immunotherapy has already been tested in clinical trials2,mimotope-based AIT remains largely in the preclinical stage.Here,we revisit the pros and cons of mimotope-based AIT and describe recent findings concerning the use of mimotopes in AIT.

Peptide drugs: a new direction in cancer immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a promising approach in cancer treatment and is considered a major advancement after surgical interventions, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. The clinical use of immunotherapeutic drugs, particularly antibody-based drugs that target immune checkpoints, has notably increased~1.

Revolutionizing gastric cancer treatment:The potential of immunotherapy

Gastric cancer,a prevalent malignancy worldwide,ranks sixth in terms of frequency and third in fatality,causing over a million new cases and 769000 annual deaths.Predominant in Eastern Europe and Eastern Asia,risk factors include family medical history,dietary habits,tobacco use,Helicobacter pylori,and Epstein-Barr virus infections.Unfortunately,gastric cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage,leading to a grim prognosis,with a 5-year overall survival rate below 5%.Surgical intervention,particularly with D2 Lymphadenectomy,is the mainstay for early-stage cases but offers limited success.For advanced cases,the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends chemotherapy,radiation,and targeted therapy.Emerging immunotherapy presents promise,especially for unresectable or metastatic cases,with strategies like immune checkpoint inhibitors,tumor vaccines,adoptive immunotherapy,and nonspecific immunomodulators.In this Editorial,with regards to the article“Advances and key focus areas in gastric cancer immunotherapy:A comprehensive scientometric and clinical trial review”,we address the advances in the field of immunotherapy in gastric cancer and its future prospects.

Deep insight into the B-cell associated tertiary lymphoid structure and tumor immunotherapy

Bod et al.1 recently published a study in Nature that garnered attention to B cell-associated anti-tumor immunity and immunotherapy of melanoma and other tumors1.As a promising supplemental immunotherapy to mainstream methods that target T and natural killer(NK)cells,B cell-associated anti-tumor immunotherapy is promising。

Analysis of the impact of immunotherapy efficacy and safety in patients with gastric cancer and liver metastasis

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is the fifth most common type of cancer and has the fourth highest death rate among all cancers.There is a lack of studies examining the impact of liver metastases on the effectiveness of immunotherapy in individuals diagnosed with GC.AIM To investigate the influence of liver metastases on the effectiveness and safety of immunotherapy in patients with advanced GC.METHODS This retrospective investigation collected clinical data of patients with advanced stomach cancer who had immunotherapy at our hospital from February 2021 to January 2023.The baseline attributes were compared using either the Chi-square test or the Fisher exact probability method.The chi-square test and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were employed to assess the therapeutic efficacy and survival duration in GC patients with and without liver metastases.RESULTS The analysis comprised 48 patients diagnosed with advanced GC,who were categorized into two groups:A liver metastasis cohort(n=20)and a non-liver metastatic cohort(n=28).Patients with liver metastasis exhibited a more deteriorated physical condition compared to those without liver metastasis.The objective response rates in the cohort with metastasis and the cohort without metastasis were 15.0%and 35.7%(P>0.05),respectively.Similarly,the disease control rates in these two cohorts were 65.0%and 82.1%(P>0.05),respectively.The median progression-free survival was 5.0 months in one group and 11.2 months in the other group,with a hazard ratio of 0.40 and a significance level(P)less than 0.05.The median overall survival was 12.0 months in one group and 19.0 months in the other group,with a significance level(P)greater than 0.05.CONCLUSION Immunotherapy is less effective in GC patients with liver metastases compared to those without liver metastasis.

Present situation and prospect of immunotherapy for unresectable locally advanced esophageal cancer during peri-radiotherapy

Four major studies(Checkmate577,Keynote-590,Checkmate649 and Attraction-4)of locally advanced esophageal cancer published in 2020 have established the importance of immunotherapy,represented by anti-programmed death protein(PD)-1 in postoperative adjuvant treatment and advanced first-line treatment of locally advanced or advanced esophageal cancer and esophagogastric junction cancer,from the aspects of proof of concept,long-term survival,overall survival rate and progression-free survival.For unresectable or inoperable nonmetastatic esophageal cancer,concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy is the standard treatment recommended by various guidelines.Because its curative effect is still not ideal,it is necessary to explore radical radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the future,and it is considered to be promising to combine them with immunotherapeutic drugs such as anti-PD-1.This paper mainly discusses how to combine radical concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy with immunotherapy for unresectable local advanced esophageal cancer.

Immunotherapy of gastric cancer:Present status and future perspectives

In this editorial,we comment on the article entitled“Advances and key focus areas in gastric cancer immunotherapy:A comprehensive scientometric and clinical trial review(1999-2023),”which was published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology.We focused on the results of the authors’bibliometric analysis concerning gastric cancer immunotherapy,which they analyzed in depth by compiling the relevant publications of the last 20 years.Before that,we briefly describe the most recent data concerning the epidemiological parameters of gastric cancer(GC)in different countries,attempting to give an interpretation based on the etiological factors involved in the etiopathogenesis of the neoplasm.We then briefly discuss the conservative treatment(chemotherapy)of the various forms of this malignant neoplasm.We describe the treatment of resectable tumors,locally advanced neoplasms,and unresectable(advanced)cases.Special attention is given to modern therapeutic approaches with emphasis on immunotherapy,which seems to be the future of GC treatment,especially in combination with chemotherapy.There is also a thorough analysis of the results of the study under review in terms of the number of scientific publications,the countries in which the studies were conducted,the authors,and the scientific centers of origin,as well as the clinical studies in progress.Finally,an attempt is made to draw some conclusions and to point out possible future directions.

Treatment of primary nasal tuberculosis with anti-tumor necrosis factor immunotherapy:A case report

BACKGROUND Primary nasal tuberculosis(TB)is a rare form of extrapulmonary TB,particularly in patients receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor(TNF)immunotherapy.As a result,its diagnosis remains challenging.CASE SUMMARY A 58-year-old male patient presented to the ear,nose,and throat department with right-sided nasal obstruction and bloody discharge for 1 month.He was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and received anti-TNF immunotherapy for 3 years prior to presentation.Biopsy findings revealed chronic granulomatous inammation and a few acid-fast bacilli,suggestive of primary nasal TB.He was referred to our TB management department for treatment with oral anti-TB agents.After 9 months,the nasal lesions had disappeared.No recurrence was noted during follow-up.CONCLUSION The diagnosis of primary nasal TB should be considered in patients receiving TNF antagonists who exhibit thickening and crusting of the nasal septum mucosa or inferior turbinate,particularly when pathological findings suggest granulomatous inflammation.

Immunotherapy for esophageal cancer:Where are we now and where can we go

Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy has dramatically improved patient prognosis,and thereby transformed the treatment in various cancer types including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)in the past decade.Monoclonal antibodies that selectively inhibit programmed cell death-1(PD-1)activity has now become standard of care in the treatment of ESCC in metastatic settings,and has a high expectation to provide clinical benefit during perioperative period.Further,anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated protein 4(CTLA-4)monoclonal antibody has also been approved in the treatment of recurrent/metastatic ESCC in combination with anti-PD-1 antibody.Well understanding of the existing evidence of immune-based treatments for ESCC,as well as recent clinical trials on various combinations with chemotherapy for different clinical settings including neoadjuvant,adjuvant,and metastatic diseases,may provide future prospects of ESCC treatment for better patient outcomes.

Gastric cancer liver metastasis will reduce the efficacy of immunotherapy

Immune checkpoint inhibitors augment the antitumor activity of T cells by inhibiting the negative regulatory pathway of T cells,leading to notable efficacy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer,melanoma,and other malignancies through immunotherapy utilization.However,secondary malignant liver tumors not only lower the liver's sensitivity to immunotherapy but also trigger systemic immune suppression,resulting in reduced overall effectiveness of immune therapy.Patients receiving immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma experience reduced response rates,progression-free survival,and overall survival when secondary malignant tumors develop in the liver.Through Liu's retrospective analysis,valuable insights are provided for the future clinical management of these patients.Therefore,in patients with gastric cancer(GC),the occurrence of liver metastasis might be indicative of reduced efficacy of immuno-therapy.Overcoming liver immune tolerance mechanisms and their negative impacts allows for the potential benefits of immunotherapy in patients with GC and liver metastasis.INTRODUCTION Gastric cancer(GC)ranks among the prevalent malignancies affecting the digestive system globally.Based on the latest epidemiological data[1,2],it holds the fifth position for incidence and the fourth position for mortality among all malignant tumors.GC cases and fatalities in China make up roughly half of the worldwide figures.Earlier investigations[3]have demonstrated that the median overall survival(mOS)among advanced GC patients left untreated typically ranges from 3 to 4 months.Systemic chemotherapy recipients often experience a mOS of around one year,accompanied by a marked improvement in the quality of life among patients with advanced GC.The mainstay of treatment for advanced GC patients involves chemotherapeutic medications such as fluoropyrimidines,platinum compounds,and taxanes.However,their efficacy in tumor control is constrained by acquired resistance and primary resistance.The rise of personalized precision therapy has propelled immunotherapy into the spotlight as a crucial component of comprehensive treatment[4].By blocking the negative regulatory pathways of T cells,immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)boost the anti-tumor effect of T cells.Immunotherapy has brought about significant therapeutic benefits for patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer,melanoma,and related illnesses[5,6],instilling newfound hope in those with advanced GC[7].However,phase III clinical trial data[8-12]reveals that the incorporation of immunotherapy into chemotherapy regimens improves overall survival(OS)outcomes for patients with advanced GC.The liver's immune-exempt nature renders it less responsive to immunotherapy when secondary malignant tumors are present,fostering systemic immune suppression and yielding unfavorable outcomes in immune therapy[13-15].In retrospective research[16-20]pertaining to non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma,it has been observed that the presence of secondary liver malignancies may lower the response rate,progression-free survival(PFS),and OS rates in patients treated with immunotherapy,independent of factors such as tumor mutation burden and PD-L1 expression.Despite this,there is a paucity of studies examining whether the existence of secondary malignant liver tumors affects the effectiveness of immunotherapy in patients diagnosed with advanced HER-2 negative GC.

Opportunities and challenges of CD47-targeted therapy in cancer immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a promising strategy for the treatment of cancer,with the tumor microenvironment(TME)playing a pivotal role in modulating the immune response.CD47,a cell surface protein,has been identified as a crucial regulator of the TME and a potential therapeutic target for cancer therapy.However,the precise functions and implications of CD47 in the TME during immunotherapy for cancer patients remain incompletely understood.This comprehensive review aims to provide an overview of CD47’s multifaced role in TME regulation and immune evasion,elucidating its impact on various types of immunotherapy outcomes,including checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T-cell therapy.Notably,CD47-targeted therapies offer a promising avenue for improving cancer treatment outcomes,especially when combined with other immunotherapeutic approaches.The review also discusses current and potential CD47-targeted therapies being explored for cancer treatment and delves into the associated challenges and opportunities inherent in targeting CD47.Despite the demonstrated effectiveness of CD47-targeted therapies,there are potential problems,including unintended effects on healthy cells,hematological toxicities,and the development if resistance.Consequently,further research efforts are warranted to fully understand the underlying mechanisms of resistance and to optimize CD47-targeted therapies through innovative combination approaches,ultimately improving cancer treatment outcomes.Overall,this comprehensive review highlights the significance of CD47 as a promising target for cancer immunotherapy and provides valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities in developing effective CD47-targeted therapies for cancer treatment.

Advancements in Lynch Syndrome Management: Applying Immunotherapy for Therapeutic Success

Lynch syndrome is the fourth most common cancer in the United States, with an early age of onset and poor prognosis. Here, we present a unique case of a patient with progressive colon cancer due to a late diagnosis of Lynch syndrome showing excellent response to immunotherapy. A 59-year-old male with a history of rectal cancer 30 years ago came to the hospital due to a fever and further found a large necrotic colon mass. Biopsy was positive for colorectal cancer;however, due to the size of the tumor, the patient was deemed not a surgical candidate and offered hospice with palliative chemotherapy. Based on further workup, the patient was diagnosed with Lynch syndrome, with colon cancer determined to be responsive to Immunotherapy. He was started on JEMPERLI (Dosterlimab-gxly), and after three cycles of therapy, imaging and PET scan were repeated, showing decreased activity and extent of the tumor—a tremendous success.

New avenues for the treatment of immunotherapy-resistant pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer(PC)is characterized by its extremely aggressive nature and ranks 14th in the number of new cancer cases worldwide.However,due to its complexity,it ranks 7th in the list of the most lethal cancers worldwide.The pathogenesis of PC involves several complex processes,including familial genetic factors associated with risk factors such as obesity,diabetes mellitus,chronic pancreatitis,and smoking.Mutations in genes such as KRAS,TP53,and SMAD4 are linked to the appearance of malignant cells that generate pancreatic lesions and,consequently,cancer.In this context,some therapies are used for PC,one of which is immunotherapy,which is extremely promising in various other types of cancer but has shown little response in the treatment of PC due to various resistance mechanisms that contribute to a drop in immunotherapy efficiency.It is therefore clear that the tumor microenvironment(TME)has a huge impact on the resistance process,since cellular and non-cellular elements create an immunosuppressive environment,characterized by a dense desmoplastic stroma with cancerassociated fibroblasts,pancreatic stellate cells,extracellular matrix,and immunosuppressive cells.Linked to this are genetic mutations in TP53 and immunosuppressive factors that act on T cells,resulting in a shortage of CD8+T cells and limited expression of activation markers such as interferon-gamma.In this way,finding new strategies that make it possible to manipulate resistance mechanisms is necessary.Thus,techniques such as the use of TME modulators that block receptors and stromal molecules that generate resistance,the use of genetic manipulation in specific regions,such as microRNAs,the modulation of extrinsic and intrinsic factors associated with T cells,and,above all,therapeutic models that combine these modulation techniques constitute the promising future of PC therapy.Thus,this study aims to elucidate the main mechanisms of resistance to immunotherapy in PC and new ways of manipulating this process,resulting in a more efficient therapy for cancer patients and,consequently,a reduction in the lethality of this aggressive cancer.

Complex role of neutrophils in the tumor microenvironment: an avenue for novel immunotherapies

Neutrophils,which originate from the bone marrow and are characterized by a segmented nucleus and a brief lifespan,have a crucial role in the body’s defense against infections and acute inflammation.Recent research has uncovered the complex roles of neutrophils as regulators in tumorigenesis,during which neutrophils exhibit a dualistic nature that promotes or inhibits tumor progression.This adaptability is pivotal within the tumor microenvironment(TME).In this review,we provide a comprehensive characterization of neutrophil plasticity and heterogeneity,aiming to illuminate current research findings and discuss potential therapeutic avenues.By delineating the intricate interplay of neutrophils in the TME,this review further underscores the urgent need to understand the dual functions of neutrophils with particular emphasis on the anti-tumor effects to facilitate the development of effective therapeutic strategies against cancer.

Immunotherapy in type 1 diabetes:Novel pathway to the future ahead

Since the discovery of insulin over 100 years ago,the focus of research in the management of type 1 diabetes(T1D)has centered around glycemic control and management of complications rather than the prevention of autoimmune destruc-tion of pancreaticβcells.Fortunately,in recent years,there has been significant advancement in immune-targeted pharmacotherapy to halt the natural progres-sion of T1D.The immune-targeted intervention aims to alter the underlying pa-thogenesis of T1D by targeting different aspects of the immune system.The im-munotherapy can either antagonize the immune mediators like T cells,B cells or cytokines(antibody-based therapy),or reinduce self-tolerance to pancreaticβcells(antigen-based therapy)or stem-cell treatment.Recently,the US Food and Drug Administration approved the first immunotherapy teplizumab to be used only in stage 2 of T1D.However,the window of opportunity to practically implement this approved molecule in the selected target population is limited.In this Edito-rial,we briefly discuss the various promising recent developments in the field of immunotherapy research in T1D.However,further studies of these newer thera-peutic agents are needed to explore their true potential for prevention or cure of T1D.

Protein ubiquitination in ovarian cancer immunotherapy:The progress and therapeutic strategy

Ovarian cancer is a common cancer for females,and the incidence and mortality rates are on the rise.Many treatment strategies have been developed for ovarian cancer,including chemotherapy and immunotherapy,but they are often ineffective and prone to drug resistance.Protein ubiquitination is an important class of post-translation modifications that have been found to be associated with various human diseases and cancer development.Recent studies have revealed that protein ubiquitination is involved in the progression of ovarian cancer and plays an important role in the tumor immune process.Moreover,the com-bination of ubiquitinase/deubiquitinase inhibitors and cancer immunotherapy approaches can effectively reduce treatment resistance and improve treatment efficacy,which provides new ideas for cancer treatment.Herein,we review the role of protein ubiquitination in relation to ovarian cancer immunotherapy and recent advances in the use of ubiquitinase/deubiquitinase inhibitorsin combil ationwitncaner mmunotherapy.

Gastric cancer immunotherapy:A scientometric and clinical trial review

This letter is intended to arouse your interest in a recent review of comprehensive scientometrics and clinical trials on immunotherapy for gastric cancer(GC).Our study reviews recent advances in immunotherapy in the field of GC and highlights its new prospects as a treatment for GC.Our research reveals China’s leadership in this field,as well as new therapeutic strategies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors,cellular immunotherapy,and vaccines.The combined findings highlight the potential of immunotherapy to improve survival and quality of life in patients with stomach cancer.We believe that this study will provide important guidance for the future direction of the GC treatment field.