Progress in the use of Immunotherapy to Treat Uterine Cervical Cancer

Lorenzo, Beatriz Helena De; Ramos, Marisa de Carvalho; Michelin, Márcia Antoniazi; Murta, Eddie Fernando Cândido

doi:10.1177/030089160909500101

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 67 publications

(75 reference statements)

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“…In addition, most of the cervical cancer patients also receive radiotherapy and chemotherapy either solely or in combination. However, none of these approaches should of persistent HPV infection in the remaining cancer tissues after classic therapy [33]. More recently, the immunotherapy approach, with the help of immunomodulators, has attracted more attention, since this approach can enhance HPV-specific cellular immune responses that might be critical for eliminating HPV-specific neoplasia [16,34].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interferon α Induces the Apoptosis of Cervical Cancer HeLa Cells by Activating both the Intrinsic Mitochondrial Pathway and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Pathway

Shi

Cao

Liu

2016

IJMS

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The interferon α (IFN-α) has been often used as a sensitizing agent for the treatment of various malignancies such as hepatocellular carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and renal cell cancer by promoting the apoptosis of thesetumor cell types. However, the effect of IFN-α on cervical cancer remains unknown. In this study, HeLa cells were used as a testing model for the treatment of IFN-α on cervical cancer. The results indicate that IFN-α markedly inhibits the proliferation and induces the apoptosis of HeLa cells. The activation of caspase 3, the up-regulation of both Bim and cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) 1, the down-regulation of Bcl-xL, as well as the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria were significantly induced upon IFN-α treatment, indicating that the intrinsic apoptotic pathway could be activated by IFN-α treatment. In addition, caspase 4—which is involved in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis—was activated in response to IFN-α treatment. Knocking down caspase 4 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) markedly reduced the IFN-α-mediated cell apoptosis. However, no significant changes in the expressions of caspases 8 and 10 were observed upon IFN-α treatment, indicating that the apoptosis caused by IFN-α might be independent of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. These findings suggest that IFN-α may possess anti-cervical cancer capacity by activating cell apoptosis via the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway and caspase-4-related ER stress-induced pathway.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interferon α Induces the Apoptosis of Cervical Cancer HeLa Cells by Activating both the Intrinsic Mitochondrial Pathway and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Pathway

Shi

Cao

Liu

2016

IJMS

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Revolutionary impact of nanovaccines on immunotherapy

Shahbazi

Santos

2014

European Journal of Molecular &Amp; Clinical Medicine

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Over the past few decades, public health has been immensely improved by preventing various types of diseases using vaccination, a method implying attenuated, killed or part of a microorganism to activate the immune system against it. Recently, nanovaccines have attracted a lot of attention as a new approach for enhancing the immune responses against immunogenic molecules. A wide variety 2 of nanomaterials are reported as proper candidates for nano-vaccination. Currently, the focus of nanovaccines researches are developing new formulations that trigger strong anti-cancer responses by presenting tumor antigens either directly to T immune cells or indirectly to antigen-presenting cells, holding great promise for safe, non-invasive, and cost-effective therapy of cancer. This review focuses on the critical aspects in the design of biomaterial based nanovaccines and reviews the state of the art of the formulations in clinical development and those currently marketed. Focal points:• BedsideUnderstanding the complex potential of the immune system to prevent and treat various diseases such as cancer, will contribute to the scientific advance in the development of new therapeutic strategies and will allow for the discovery of alternative treatments for deadly diseases. • BenchsideMany of the immunostimulative pathways involved in the suppression of cancer tumor growth have been identified and additional research is still needed to recognize the molecular mechanisms of the immunotherapeutic strategies. • IndustryThe discovery of new non-toxic immunotherapeutic compounds may pave the way towards developing new cancer tumor therapeutic approaches. A major effort in the identification of preventing approaches is also needed to develop preventive nanoformulations for healthy people who are at the risk of cancer. • CommunityThe treatment of cancer by cheap, efficient and as less invasive as possible methodologies will have a great impact on the quality of life of the patients. • GovernmentsSince the development of anticancer nanoformulations needs extensive support from the authorities for success in clinical translation, the financial investments of the governments is necessary to translate the research in the lab to the bedside. The governmental support can also increase the years of healthy life of the patients and minimize the associated costs overtime.

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