Immunization against Tumors Caused by Human Viruses

Immunization against Tumors Caused by Human Viruses

RNDr. Michal Šmahel, Ph.D.

RNDr. Michal Šmahel, Ph.D. — Project head

The Faculty of Science of the Charles University

About us

This project is focused on the optimization of DNA immunization against tumors induced with human papillomaviruses (HPVs). To enhance the efficacy of this antitumor vaccination, various fusion genes that express antigens with favorable characteristics (e.g. with inserted strong universal helper epitopes or with cellular localization that targets antigens into pathways of MHC class I and/or class II presentation) are constructed. Furthermore, the research team attempts to augment the antitumor effect of DNA immunization by combination with other immunotherapeutic approaches – blockade of immune checkpoint receptors with monoclonal antibodies and activation of toll-like receptors with their ligands.

Murine lung metastasesLung metastases

 

DNA vaccines that are delivered by a gene gun are aimed against the viral oncoprotein E7, which represents a tumor specific antigen. The efficacy of immunotherapy is examined in mouse tumor models that are also developed in the laboratory, including derivation of tumor cell lines with reduced expression of MHC class I molecules. As this reduction is one of the most frequent mechanisms of tumor escape from the host immunity, it could contribute to the limited therapeutic effect of cancer immunotherapy in clinical trials.

To study factors that influence the effect of cancer immunotherapy, mouse oncogenic cell lines are modified with the CRISPR/Cas9 system and immune reactions induced by immunotherapy are analyzed. Particularly, immune cells that infiltrate tumors with various MHC class I expression and contribute to an anti-tumor effect are characterized. Moreover, spatial and temporal heterogeneity of immune cells in tumor microenvironment is analyzed. Finally, the interaction of some human oncogenic viruses with plasmacytoid dendritic cells is investigated.

 

Potential for cooperation

In this project, we can cooperate with research laboratories studying tumor immunology, immunotherapy of malignant diseases, and tumor escape mechanisms. We also welcome cooperation with clinical institutions that are interested in immune reactions in patients with malignancies or that are performing clinical trials of cancer immunotherapy. Next, we can cooperate with pharmacological companies in preclinical testing of combined antitumor therapy that includes immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint blockade. In these studies, we can provide our mouse models of tumors with downregulated MHC class I expression and analyze immune reactions by ELISPOT and ELISA assays, immunohistochemical staining of tumors, and flow cytometric phenotyping of tumor-infiltrating immune cells.

 

MORE INFO

News

Events

Publications

2024

Vránová L., Poláková I., Vaníková Š., Saláková M., Musil J., Vaníčková M., Vencálek O., Holub M., Bohoněk M., Řezáč D., Dresler J., Tachezy R., Šmahel M. (2024): Multiparametric analysis of the specific immune response against SARS-CoV-2. Infect Dis. (Lond). doi: 10.1080/23744235.2024.2358379.


Smahelova J., Pokryvkova B., Stovickova E., Grega M., Vencalek O., Smahel M., Koucky V., Malerova S., Klozar J., Tachezy R. (2024): Aspartate-β-hydroxylase and hypoxia marker expression in head and neck carcinomas: implications for HPV-associated tumors. Infect. Agent Cancer 19 (1): 26.

Kanwal M., Polakova I., Olsen M., Kasi M.K., Tachezy R., Smahel M. (2024): Heterogeneous response of tumor cell lines to inhibition of aspartate β-hydroxylase. J. Cancer 15 (11): 3466-3480.

Kanwal M., Smahelova J., Ciharova B., Johari S.D., Nunvar J., Olsen M., Smahel M. (2024): Aspartate β-hydroxylase Regulates Expression of Ly6 Genes. J. Cancer 15 (5): 1138-1152.

2022

Šmahel M., Tachezy R., Holub M., Dresler J., Poláková I., Saláková M., Schreiberová L., Dvouletý P., Kabíčková H., Kubíčková P., Pavliš O., Beran O., Bohoněk M. (2022): Development of a methodology for analysis of T-cell response against SARS-CoV-2. Ministry of Defense Bulletin 2022, No. 17, page 619

2021

Pokrývková B., Šmahelová J., Dalewská N., Grega M., Vencálek O., Šmahel M., Nunvář J., Klozar J., Tachezy R.(2021): ARG1 mRNA level is a promising prognostic marker in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Diagnostics 11 (4): 628.

Vackova J., Polakova I., Johari S.D., Smahel M. (2021): CD80 expression on yumor cells alters tumor microenvironment and efficacy of cancer immunotherapy by CTLA-4 blockade. Cancers 13 (8): 1935.

2020

Vackova J., Piatakova A., Polakova I., Smahel M. (2020): Abrogation of IFN-γ signaling may not worsen sensitivity to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 21 (5): 1806.

Kanwal M., Smahel M., Olsen M., Smahelova J., Tachezy R. (2020): Aspartate β-hydroxylase as a target for cancer therapy. J. Exp. Clin. Cancer Res. 39 (1): 163.

2019

Lhotáková K., Grzelak A., Poláková I., Vacková J., Šmahel M. (2019): Establishment and characterization of a mouse tumor cell line with irreversible downregulation of MHC class I molecules. Oncol. Rep. 42 (6): 2826-2835.

Poláková I., Pelák O., Thürner D., Pokrývková B., Tachezy R., Kalina T., Šmahel M. (2019): Implementation of mass cytometry for immunoprofiling of patients with solid tumors. J. Immunol. Res. 2019: 6705949.

2018

Grzelak A., Poláková I., Šmahelová J., Vacková J., Pekarčíková L., Tachezy R., Šmahel M. (2018): Experimental combined immunotherapy of tumours with major histocompatibility complex class I downregulation. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 19 (11): pii: E3693.

2017

Šmahelová J., Kaštánková I., Poláková K.M., Klamová H., Zemanová K., Tachezy R., Hamšíková E., Šmahel M. (2017): Expression of genes encoding centrosomal proteins and the humoral response against these proteins in chronic myeloid leukemia. Oncol. Rep. 37 (1): 547-554.

Šmahel M. (2017): PD-1/PD-L1 Blockade Therapy for Tumors with Downregulated MHC Class I Expression. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 18 (6): pii: E1331.

2016

Kaštánková I., Poláková I., Dušková M., Šmahel M. (2016): Combined cancer immunotherapy against Aurora kinase A. J. Immunother. 39 (4): 160-170.

2015

Vaculík P., Plchová H., Moravec T., Hoffmeisterová H., Čeřovská N., Šmahel M. (2015). Potato virus X displaying the E7 peptide derived from human papillomavirus type 16: a novel position for epitope presentation. Plant Cell Tiss. Org. Cult. 120 (2): 671-680.

2014

Šmahel M., Dušková M., Poláková I., Musil J. (2014): Enhancement of DNA vaccine potency against legumain. J. Immunother. 37 (5): 293-303.

Poláková I., Dušková M., Šmahel M. (2014): Antitumor DNA vaccination against the Sox2 transcription factor. Int. J. Oncol. 45 (1): 139-146.

Šmahel M., Poláková I., Dušková M., Ludvíková V., Kaštánková I. (2014): The effect of helper epitopes and cellular localization of an antigen on the outcome of gene gun DNA immunization. Gene Ther. 21 (2): 225-232.

Team

RNDr. Michal Šmahel, Ph.D. RNDr. Michal Šmahel, Ph.D.

RNDr.
Michal Šmahel, Ph.D.

Head of Group Immunization against Tumors Caused by Human Viruses

michal.smahel@natur.cuni.cz
+420325873921, +420325873947
M.Phil. Madiha Kanwal, Ph.D. M.Phil. Madiha Kanwal, Ph.D.

M.Phil.
Madiha Kanwal, Ph.D.

junior researcher

madiha.kanwal@natur.cuni.cz
+420325873921
Dipl.-Ing. Adrianna Piataková Dipl.-Ing. Adrianna Piataková

Dipl.-Ing.
Adrianna Piataková

Junior Researcher

adrianna.grzelak@natur.cuni.cz
+420325873941

Teaching

Alumni

thesis author thesis name thesis type term
Adrianna Piataková Combined immunotherapy of tumors with different expression of MHC class I molecules PhD thesis 2022
Julie Vacková Checkpoint blockade in cancer immunotherapy PhD thesis 2021
Iva Kaštánková Development of experimental antitumor DNA vaccines PhD thesis 2017
Kateřina Krausová : The effect of aspartate β-hydroxylase inhibition on immune reactions MSc thesis 2023
Miriam Majerová Derivation and characterization of tumor cell lines labeled with fluorescent proteins MSc thesis 2022
Karolína Lhotáková Modification of murine tumor cell lines with CRISPR/Cas9 system and their characterization MSc thesis 2019
Hanka Kotvalová Role of Zinc-α2-glycoprotein in tumors BSc thesis 2023
Kateřina Krausová Immune reactions induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection BSc thesis 2021
Barbora Muffová Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 inhibitors in cancer immunotherapy BSc thesis 2020
Miriam Majerová Factors affecting the efficacy of anti-tumor therapy by blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway and predictive biomarkers of this treatment BSc thesis 2019
Karolína Lhotáková Significance of MHC class I molecules in antitumor immunity BSc thesis 2016