Immune-Activated B Cells Are Dominant in Prostate Cancer.

B cells are multifaceted immune cells responding robustly during immune surveillance against tumor antigens by presentation to T cells and switched immunoglobulin production. However, B cells are unstudied in prostate cancer (PCa). We used flow cytometry to analyze B-cell subpopulations in peripheral blood and lymph nodes from intermediate-high risk PCa patients. B-cell subpopulations were related to clinicopathological factors. B-cell-receptor single-cell sequencing and VDJ analysis identified clonal B-cell expansion in blood and lymph nodes. Pathological staging was pT2 in 16%, pT3a in 48%, and pT3b in 36%. Lymph node metastases occurred in 5/25 patients (20%). Compared to healthy donors, the peripheral blood CD19+ B-cell compartment was significantly decreased in PCa patients and dominated by naïve B cells. The nodal B-cell compartment had significantly increased fractions of CD19+ B cells and switched memory B cells. Plasmablasts were observed in tumor-draining sentinel lymph nodes (SNs). VDJ analysis revealed clonal expansion in lymph nodes. Thus, activated B cells are increased in SNs from PCa patients. The increased fraction of switched memory cells and plasmablasts together with the presence of clonally expanded B cells indicate tumor-specific T-cell-dependent responses from B cells, supporting an important role for B cells in the protection against tumors.

Immune responses against autologous tumor and human papilloma virus in lymph nodes from patients with penile cancer.

PURPOSE: Nearly half of penile cancers are related to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Investigations of tumor- and HPV-specific T cell reactivity in regional lymph nodes (LNs) from patients with penile cancer are warranted. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, single-cell suspensions from LNs and peripheral blood from 11 patients with penile cancer were stained with antibodies for lymphocyte markers and analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). DNA was extracted from the tumor tissue and HPV status was investigated by PCR. RESULTS: T-cell reactivity against autologous tumor-extract and against the HPV-vaccine Gardasil® was tested by flow-cytometric assay of specific cell-mediated immune response in activated whole blood (FASCIA). CD4+/CD8+ ratios were significantly lower in HPV positive LNs (p<0.05). Immune responses to tumor extract assessed by blast transformation and expansion in vitro, of either CD4+ or CD8+ T-cells, were found in 9 of 13 LNs (69%). 5 of 6 tested patients demonstrated T cell recognition of tumor-associated antigen(s). In HPV-positive patients, dose-dependent T cell responses against L1 (late) HPV proteins (Gardasil vaccine) were demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: LN-derived T cells from patients with penile cancer recognize tumor antigen(s) and in HPV-positive cases, there is a response against L1 (late) HPV proteins, being constituents of the Gardasil vaccine.

Hodgkin Lymphoma Monozygotic Triplets Reveal Divergences in DNA Methylation Signatures.

We studied DNA methylation profiles in four different cell populations from a unique constellation of monozygotic triplets in whom two had developed Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL). We detected shared differences in DNA methylation signatures when comparing the two HL-affected triplets with the non-affected triplet. The differences were observed in naïve B-cells and marginal zone-like B-cells. DNA methylation differences were also detected when comparing each of the HL-affected triplets against each other. Even though we cannot determine whether treatment and/or disease triggered the observed differences, we believe our data are important on behalf of forthcoming studies, and that it might provide important clues for a better understanding of HL pathogenesis.

Tumour-associated B cells in urothelial urinary bladder cancer.

Tumour infiltrating B cells and CD38+ plasma cells have been correlated with survival in different malignancies but their role in urinary bladder cancer is unclear. IL-10 is a multifunctional cytokine with both anti-inflammatory and immunostimulatory properties, that can be released by regulatory B cells (Bregs). We have stained paraffin-embedded tumour sections from 31 patients with invasive urothelial urinary bladder cancer with respect to CD20+ B cells, CD38+ cells, IL-10-expressing cells, IgG, C1q and C3a and analysed the impact of these markers on survival. Interestingly, we observe tumour-associated CD20+ B cells forming follicle-like structures in tumours of some patients. We demonstrate that follicle-like structures, tumour-associated CD38+ cells, IL-10 produced by non-B cells, tumour infiltrating IgG and activation of the complement system, may associate to longer survival of urinary bladder cancer patients. IL-10 expression by tumour-associated Bregs may instead negatively affect prognosis. More research is needed to fully understand the role of B cells and IL-10 in urinary bladder cancer.

Increased CD4+ T cell lineage commitment determined by CpG methylation correlates with better prognosis in urinary bladder cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Urinary bladder cancer is a common malignancy worldwide. Environmental factors and chronic inflammation are correlated with the disease risk. Diagnosis is performed by transurethral resection of the bladder, and patients with muscle invasive disease preferably proceed to radical cystectomy, with or without neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The anti-tumour immune responses, known to be initiated in the tumour and draining lymph nodes, may play a major role in future treatment strategies. Thus, increasing the knowledge of tumour-associated immunological processes is important. Activated CD4+ T cells differentiate into four main separate lineages: Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg, and they are recognized by their effector molecules IFN-γ, IL-13, IL-17A, and the transcription factor Foxp3, respectively. We have previously demonstrated signature CpG sites predictive for lineage commitment of these four major CD4+ T cell lineages. Here, we investigate the lineage commitment specifically in tumour, lymph nodes and blood and relate them to the disease stage and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: Blood, tumour and regional lymph nodes were obtained from patients at time of transurethral resection of the bladder and at radical cystectomy. Tumour-infiltrating CD4+ lymphocytes were significantly hypomethylated in all four investigated lineage loci compared to CD4+ lymphocytes in lymph nodes and blood (lymph nodes vs tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes: IFNG -4229 bp p < 0.0001, IL13 -11 bp p < 0.05, IL17A -122 bp p < 0.01 and FOXP3 -77 bp p > 0.05). Examination of individual lymph nodes displayed different methylation signatures, suggesting possible correlation with future survival. More advanced post-cystectomy tumour stages correlated significantly with increased methylation at the IFNG -4229 bp locus. Patients with complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy displayed significant hypomethylation in CD4+ T cells for all four investigated loci, most prominently in IFNG p < 0.0001. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy seemed to result in a relocation of Th1-committed CD4+ T cells from blood, presumably to the tumour, indicated by shifts in the methylation patterns, whereas no such shifts were seen for lineages corresponding to IL13, IL17A and FOXP3. CONCLUSION: Increased lineage commitment in CD4+ T cells, as determined by demethylation in predictive CpG sites, is associated with lower post-cystectomy tumour stage, complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and overall better outcome, suggesting epigenetic profiling of CD4+ T cell lineages as a useful readout for clinical staging.

Urothelial bladder cancer may suppress perforin expression in CD8+ T cells by an ICAM-1/TGFß2 mediated pathway.

The immune system plays a significant role in urothelial bladder cancer (UBC) progression, with CD8+ T cells being capable to directly kill tumor cells using perforin and granzymes. However, tumors avoid immune recognition by escape mechanisms. In this study, we aim to demonstrate tumor immune escape mechanisms that suppress CD8+ T cells cytotoxicity. 42 patients diagnosed with UBC were recruited. CD8+ T cells from peripheral blood (PB), sentinel nodes (SN), and tumor were analyzed in steady state and in vitro-stimulated conditions by flow cytometry, RT-qPCR, and ELISA. Mass spectrometry (MS) was used for identification of proteins from UBC cell line culture supernatants. Perforin was surprisingly found to be low in CD8+ T cells from SN, marked by 1.8-fold decrease of PRF1 expression, with maintained expression of granzyme B. The majority of perforin-deficient CD8+ T cells are effector memory T (TEM) cells with exhausted Tc2 cell phenotype, judged by the presence of PD-1 and GATA-3. Consequently, perforin-deficient CD8+ T cells from SN are low in T-bet expression. Supernatant from muscle invasive UBC induces perforin deficiency, a mechanism identified by MS where ICAM-1 and TGFß2 signaling were causatively validated to decrease perforin expression in vitro. Thus, we demonstrate a novel tumor escape suppressing perforin expression in CD8+ T cells mediated by ICAM-1 and TGFß2, which can be targeted in combination for cancer immunotherapy.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Reinforces Antitumour T cell Response in Urothelial Urinary Bladder Cancer.

Evidence indicates that neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) may promote antitumour immune responses by activating T cells. The tumour-draining sentinel node (SN) is a key site to study tumour-specific T cell activation, being the primary immunological barrier against the tumour. In this prospective study, we set out to elucidate the effects of NAC on T cell subsets in the SNs of patients with muscle-invasive urothelial bladder cancer. We found that CD8+ effector T (Teff) cell exhaustion was reduced after NAC treatment, while cytotoxicity was increased. Additionally, in complete responders (CR patients), these cells were functionally committed effectors, as displayed by epigenetic analysis. In CD4+ Teffs, NAC treatment was associated with increased clonal expansion of tumour-specific SN-derived cells, as demonstrated by a specific cell reactivity assay. In contrast, we observed an attenuating effect of NAC on regulatory T cells (Tregs) with a dose-dependent decrease in Treg frequency and reduced effector molecule expression in the remaining Tregs. In addition, multicolour flow cytometry analysis revealed that CR patients had higher Teff to activated Treg ratio, promoting antitumoural T cell activation. These results suggest that NAC reinforces the antitumour immune response by activating the effector arm of the T cell compartment and diminishing the influence of suppressive Tregs. PATIENT SUMMARY: In this report, we analysed the effect of chemotherapy on immune cell subsets of 40 patients with advanced bladder cancer. We found that chemotherapy has a positive effect on immune effector T cells, whereas an opposite, diminishing effect was observed for immune-suppressive regulatory T cells. We conclude that chemotherapy reinforces the antitumour immune response in bladder cancer patients.

Doxorubicin enhances the capacity of B cells to activate T cells in urothelial urinary bladder cancer.

Cancer is currently treated by a combination of therapies, including chemotherapy which is believed to suppress the immune system. Combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy correlates with improved survival but needs careful planning in order to achieve a synergistic effect. In this study, we have demonstrated that doxorubicin treatment of B cells resulted in increased expression of CD86 and concordantly increased CD4+ T cell activation in the presence of superantigen, an effect that was inhibited by the addition of a CD86 blocking antibody. Furthermore, doxorubicin resulted in decreased expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and TNF-α. Finally, B cells from urinary bladder cancer patients, treated with a neoadjuvant regiment containing doxorubicin, displayed increased CD86-expression. We conclude that doxorubicin induces CD86 expression on B cells and hence enhances their antigen-presenting ability in vitro, a finding verified in patients. Development of tailored time and dose schedules may increase the effectiveness of combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Multiplex B cell characterization in blood, lymph nodes, and tumors from patients with malignancies.

B lymphocytes contribute to immune surveillance, by tumor-specific Abs and Ag presentation to T lymphocytes, but are insufficiently studied in humans. In this article, we report a flow cytometric investigation of B lymphocyte subpopulations in blood, lymph nodes (LNs), and malignant tissues from 20 patients operated on because of advanced solid tumors. The CD19(+) compartment in peripheral blood was essentially unaltered in patients, as compared with healthy control subjects. In metastatic LNs, signs of B lymphocyte activation were observed, as evidenced by increased proportions of plasmablasts and CD86-expressing cells. In tumor-infiltrating B lymphocytes (TIL-B), both switched memory cells and plasmablasts were expanded, as compared with nonmalignant epithelium. Moreover, pronounced skewing of Igλ/Igκ ratio was evident among TIL-Bs. By spectratype analysis on IgH, we confirmed a monoclonal expansion of the Vh7 family in TIL-B, also present in a tumor-associated LN. Sequencing the clonally expanded Vh7 revealed signs of somatic hypermutation. In conclusion, B lymphocytes in cancer patients exhibit signs of activation in tumor-associated tissues, likely induced by recognition of tumor Ags. Increased numbers of switched memory cells and plasmablasts in combination with clonal expansion and signs of somatic hypermutation suggest a CD4(+) T lymphocyte-dependent antitumoral response, which may be exploited for immunotherapy.