Expression of inhibitory receptors on intratumoral T cells modulates the activity of a T cell-bispecific antibody targeting folate receptor.

T-cell bispecific antibodies (TCBs) are a novel therapeutic tool designed to selectively recruit T-cells to tumor cells and simultaneously activate them. However, it is currently unknown whether the dysfunctional state of T-cells, embedded into the tumor microenvironment, imprints on the therapeutic activity of TCBs. We performed a comprehensive analysis of activation and effector functions of tumor-infiltrating T-cells (TILs) in different tumor types, upon stimulation by a TCB targeting folate receptor 1 and CD3 (FolR1-TCB).

Progression of Lung Cancer Is Associated with Increased Dysfunction of T Cells Defined by Coexpression of Multiple Inhibitory Receptors.

Dysfunctional T cells present in malignant lesions are characterized by a sustained and highly diverse expression of inhibitory receptors, also referred to as immune checkpoints. Yet, their relative functional significance in different cancer types remains incompletely understood. In this study, we provide a comprehensive characterization of the diversity and expression patterns of inhibitory receptors on tumor-infiltrating T cells from patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Cancer immunology - development of novel anti-cancer therapies.

The vast majority of tumours are characterised by high frequencies of genetic and epigenetic alterations resulting in tumour-specific antigens, which may, in principle, be recognised by cytotoxic T cells. Though early clinical immunotherapy trials have yielded mixed results with ambiguous clinical benefit, cancer immunotherapy is now attracting increasing attention as a viable therapeutic option, mainly in melanoma and lung cancer, but increasingly also in other malignancies. In particular, recent therapeutic efforts targeting inhibitory receptors on T cells to overcome tumour-induced immune dysfunction have the potential to reshape current treatment standards in oncology.

Rapamycin reduces neointima formation during vascular injury.

Background: Proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) mark the key processes in the development of bypass graft disease and during neointima formation in restenosis after angioplasty. Growth factors are potent SMC mitogens as they are involved in SMC proliferation and in extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis. Based on these premises, we examined the effect of the proliferation inhibitor rapamycin in human SMC culture and in a rabbit vascular injury model.

Proliferative activity in stenotic human aortocoronary bypass grafts.

Background: Aortocoronary bypass graft disease is responsible for long-term failure of autologous vein grafts. The analyses of proliferation and cell type characterisation in human bypass grafts harvested during re-do surgery make it possible to investigate the cellular processes leading to bypass graft failure.

Methods: 30 stenotic vein grafts and 25 control veins were explantated during re-do heart surgery procedures.