Identification of Immunogenic MHC Class II Human HER3 Peptides that Mediate Anti-HER3 CD4 Th1 Responses and Potential Use as a Cancer Vaccine.

The HER3/ERBB3 receptor is an oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinase that forms heterodimers with EGFR family members and is overexpressed in numerous cancers. HER3 overexpression associates with reduced survival and acquired resistance to targeted therapies, making it a potential therapeutic target in multiple cancer types. Here, we report on immunogenic, promiscuous MHC class II-binding HER3 peptides, which can generate HER3-specific CD4 Th1 antitumor immune responses.

Differentiation and Regulation of T Cells: A Balancing Act for Cancer Immunotherapy.

Current success of immunotherapy in cancer has drawn attention to the subsets of T cells in the tumor which are critical for activation of anti-tumor response either directly by themselves or by stimulating cytotoxic T cell activity. However, presence of immunosuppressive pro-tumorigenic T subsets in the tumor milieu further contributes to the complexity of regulation of T cell-mediated immune response. In this review, we present an overview of the multifaceted positive and negative effects of T cells, with an emphasis on regulation of different T cell subtypes by various immune cells, and how a delicate balance of contradictory signals can influence overall success of cancer immunotherapy.

Disseminated cancer cells in breast cancer: Mechanism of dissemination and dormancy and emerging insights on therapeutic opportunities.

Metastatic spread in breast cancer patients is the major driver of cancer-related deaths. A unique subset of cells disseminated from pre-invasive or primary tumor lesions are recognized as the main seeds for metastatic outgrowth. Disseminated cancer cells (DCCs) can migrate to distant organs and settle in a dormant state for a prolonged period until they emerge to overt metastases.

Sequential Anti-PD1 Therapy Following Dendritic Cell Vaccination Improves Survival in a HER2 Mammary Carcinoma Model and Identifies a Critical Role for CD4 T Cells in Mediating the Response.

Patients with metastatic HER2 breast cancer (MBC) often become resistant to HER 2 targeted therapy and have recurrence of disease. The Panacea trial suggested that HER2 MBC patients were more likely to respond to checkpoint therapy if TIL were present or if tumor expressed PD-L1. We assessed whether type I polarized dendritic cells (DC1) could improve checkpoint therapy in a preclinical model of HER2 breast cancer.