Folate receptor alpha (FRα), a membrane protein involved in folate transport, is a promising therapeutic target for ovarian cancer and other malignancies. The murine Monoclonal antibody (MAb) MOv19, developed in our lab, has pioneered the development of chimeric antibody-drug conjugates currently approved or in clinical trials for the treatment of FRα-positive cancers. To further reduce antibody’s immunogenicity, we engineered and characterized a new fully human IgG1 antibody (AFRA hIgG1) to FRα starting from MOv19. AFRA hIgG1 was constructed and characterized for binding affinity, specificity to purified FRα and various FRα-expressing tumor cells and ability to recruit effector cells in vitro in comparison to the chimeric version of MOv19 (ChiMOv19). AFRA hIgG1 and ChiMOv19 have comparable functional affinities being 10−9 M and 10−10 M, respectively although AFRA hIgG1 has an intrinsic constant affinity 103 lower than that of ChiMOv19, 2.6 × 10−7 M vs. 3.5 × 10−10 M, respectively. Furthermore, AFRA hIgG1 demonstrated a better binding kinetic with an overall efficacy comparable to ChiMOv19 in recruiting effector cell functions. These findings highlight that functional affinity, rather than intrinsic affinity, is a key determinant of biological response. AFRA hIgG1 shows promise as a biologic agent for the treatment of FRα-positive cancers.

BackgroundThere is a strong need for preventive approaches to reduce the incidence of recurrence, second cancers, and late toxicities in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) survivors. We conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess a dietary intervention as a non-expensive and non-toxic method of tertiary prevention in HNSCC survivors.MethodsEligible participants were disease-free patients with HNSCC in follow-up after curative treatments. Subjects were randomized 1:1 to receive a highly monitored dietary intervention plus the Word Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research recommendations for cancer prevention (intervention arm) or standard-of-care recommendations (control arm). The planned sample size for the event-free survival evaluation (primary endpoint) was not reached, and the protocol was amended in order to investigate the clinical (nutritional and quality-of-life questionnaires) and translational study [plasma-circulating food-related microRNAs (miRNAs)] as main endpoints, the results of which are reported herein.ResultsOne hundred patients were screened, 94 were randomized, and 89 were eligible for intention-to-treat analysis. Median event-free survival was not reached in both arms. After 18 months, nutritional questionnaires showed a significant increase in Recommended Food Score (p = 0.04) in the intervention arm vs. control arm. The frequency of patients with and without a clinically meaningful deterioration or improvement of the C30 global health status in the two study arms was similar. Food-derived circulating miRNAs were identified in plasma samples at baseline, with a significant difference among countries.ConclusionThis RCT represented the first proof-of-principle study, indicating the feasibility of a clinical study based on nutritional and lifestyle interventions in HNSCC survivors. Subjects receiving specific counseling increased the consumption of the recommended foods, but no relevant changes in quality of life were recorded between the two study arms. Food-derived plasma miRNA might be considered promising circulating dietary biomarkers.

Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors have been approved and currently used in the clinical management of recurrent and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) patients. The reported benefit in clinical trials is variable and heterogeneous. Our study aims at exploring and comparing the predictive role of gene-expression signatures with classical biomarkers for immunotherapy-treated R/M HNSCC patients in a multicentric phase IIIb trial.Methods Clinical data were prospectively collected in Nivactor tiral (single-arm, open-label, multicenter, phase IIIb clinical trial in platinum-refractory HNSCC treated with nivolumab). Findings were validated in an external independent cohort of immune-treated HNSCC patients, divided in long-term and short-term survivors (overall survival >18 and <6 months since the start of immunotherapy, respectively). Pretreatment tumor tissue specimen from immunotherapy-treated R/M HNSCC patients was used for PD-L1 (Tumor Proportion Score; Combined Positive Score (CPS)) and Tumor Mutational Burden (Oncopanel TSO500) evaluation and gene expression profiling; classical biomarkers and immune signatures (retrieved from literature) were challenged in the NIVACTOR dataset.Results Cluster-6 (Cl6) stratification of NIVACTOR cases in high score (n=16, 20%) and low score (n=64, 80%) demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival in the high-score cases (p=0.00028; HR=4.34, 95% CI 1.84 to 10.22) and discriminative ability reached area under the curve (AUC)=0.785 (95% CI 0.603 to 0.967). The association of high-score Cl6 with better outcome was also confirmed in: (1) NIVACTOR progression-free survival (p=4.93E-05; HR=3.71, 95% CI 1.92 to 7.18) and objective-response-rate (AUC=0.785; 95% CI 0.603 to 0.967); (2) long survivors versus short survivors (p=0.00544). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, Cl6 was independent from Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, PDL1-CPS, and primary tumor site.Conclusions These data highlight the presence of underlying biological differences able to predict survival and response following treatment with immunotherapy in platinum-refractory R/M HNSCC that could have translational implications improving treatment selection.Trial registration number EudraCT Number: 2017-000562-30.

Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) predominantly affects the tongue and the floor of the mouth, primarily in patients over 50 years of age. Incidence and mortality rates vary significantly worldwide, influenced by geographic areas and demographic characteristics. Epidemiological studies revealed an increase in incidence of OCSCC among young adults (YA) <44 years old. This narrative review, provides updated information on the incidence, risk factors, and prognosis of YA-OCSCC using data published from 2018 to 2023 from different geographic locations. The studies indicate that the incidence of YA-OCSCC in Asia is approximately twice that in the US and that the incidence is strongly linked to risk factors such as betel quid chewing, tobacco use, and high alcohol consumption. The prognosis for YA-OCSCC, compared to that in older patients, shows similar or better overall survival, even in cases with relapses, but worse 5-year disease-free survival, despite receiving similar treatments. Consequently, a concerted effort is crucial to raise awareness about the cessation of tobacco and areca nut use, alcohol control, and the promotion of healthy lifestyle behaviors. Recent molecular data on YA-OCSCC suggests a potential profile characterized by epidermal growth factor receptor overexpression, low tumor mutation burden and an attenuated immune response. Upon confirmation in larger cohorts of YA-OCSCC patients from different geographical areas, the validated markers could aid in selecting tailored treatments.

<p>Description of additional experiments and procedures carried out in this study</p>

Gating strategy used in the characterization of tumor-infiltrating macrophages by flow cytometry

XLSX file - 2088K, Supplementary Table S2.Differentially expressed gene lists.

All antibodies approved for cancer therapy are monoclonal IgGs but the biology of IgE, supported by comparative preclinical data, offers the potential for enhanced effector cell potency. Here we report a Phase I dose escalation trial (NCT02546921) with the primary objective of exploring the safety and tolerability of MOv18 IgE, a chimeric first-in-class IgE antibody, in patients with tumours expressing the relevant antigen, folate receptor-alpha. The trial incorporated skin prick and basophil activation tests (BAT) to select patients at lowest risk of allergic toxicity. Secondary objectives were exploration of anti-tumour activity, recommended Phase II dose, and pharmacokinetics. Dose escalation ranged from 70 μg–12 mg. The most common toxicity of MOv18 IgE is transient urticaria. A single patient experienced anaphylaxis, likely explained by detection of circulating basophils at baseline that could be activated by MOv18 IgE. The BAT assay was used to avoid enrolling further patients with reactive basophils. The safety profile is tolerable and maximum tolerated dose has not been reached, with evidence of anti-tumour activity observed in a patient with ovarian cancer. These results demonstrate the potential of IgE therapy for cancer.

Demarcation of tumor islets and immune cell infiltrates in rat lung sections

Fig S2. Technical validation using NuGEN's Ovation System. The scatter plot shows the fold change consistency of genes differentially expressed using WG-DASL and NuGEN methods. Only 6 out of the 509 DE genes were found discordant, confirming the WG-DASL patterns. Data are plotted as log2 fold change (FC) expression long/short PFS; positive log2(FC) values stand for genes up-regulated in long-PFS cases, while negative values stand for up-regulation in short-PFS cases. Statistical significance was tested through Monte Carlo test (1000 interactions) yielding p-value<0.001.

<p>XLSX file - 202K, Supplementary Table S3. Results generated by GSEA comparing the PN and the PP samples.</p>

XLSX file - 198K, Supplementary Table S4. Genes found to be differentially expressed between the PP and the PN samples, as confirmed by qPCR.

Evaluation of FRalpha expression by tumor cell lines

Fig S4. Ability of existing gene signatures to predict outcome following cetuximab treatment. Five available prognostic gene-expression based signatures were taken into account: i) the hypoxia metagene (Winter, 2007); ii) the 13-gene OSCC signature (Lohavanichbutr, 2013); iii) the RSI-index (Eschrich, 2009); iv) the 42-gene Chung's high risk signature (Chung, 2006); v) the 172-gene signature (De Cecco, 2014). A score was assessed for each sample entering into our study following the model developed by the authors and compared among long- and short PFS cases. The boxplots depicts the data in the two groups. Green: long-PFS; Red: short-PFS.

<p>Table of Patient Characteristics</p>

Supplementary Materials and Methods from The Side Population of Ovarian Cancer Cells Is a Primary Target of IFN-α Antitumor Effects

<p>XLSX file - 132K, Supplementary Table S5.CD30 expression in the PP.</p>

PDF file - 107K, Supplementary Figure S3.Comparative gene expression analysis by qRT-PCR of the genes that were differently expressed between the PP and the PN groups. A. Genes upregulated in the PP samples (DEFA1, IL17B, and CST6) (p<0.05). B. Genes upregulated in the PN samples (CD68, MUM1, and ADAM22) (p<0.05). The graphs display the results obtained using the training and validation samples. The relative quantification for each sample was determined using 2-DCt, and RPL13A was used as an internal reference.

Supplementary Table 1 from New Potential Ligand-Receptor Signaling Loops in Ovarian Cancer Identified in Multiple Gene Expression Studies