MINI REVIEW article

Front. Cell Dev. Biol., 30 June 2021

Sec. Molecular and Cellular Pathology

Volume 9 - 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2021.692982

Boosting Antitumor Response by Costimulatory Strategies Driven to 4-1BB and OX40 T-cell Receptors

  • 1. Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil

  • 2. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil

  • 3. Medical School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil

  • 4. Medical School of Ribeirão Preto (FMRP), University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

  • 5. Pro Rectory of Graduation, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Immunotherapy explores several strategies to enhance the host immune system’s ability to detect and eliminate cancer cells. The use of antibodies that block immunological checkpoints, such as anti–programed death 1/programed death 1 ligand and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated protein 4, is widely recognized to generate a long-lasting antitumor immune response in several types of cancer. Evidence indicates that the elimination of tumors by T cells is the key for tumor control. It is well known that costimulatory and coinhibitory pathways are critical regulators in the activation of T cells. Besides blocking checkpoints inhibitors, the agonistic signaling on costimulatory molecules also plays an important role in T-cell activation and antitumor response. Therefore, molecules driven to costimulatory pathways constitute promising targets in cancer therapy. The costimulation of tumor necrosis factor superfamily receptors on lymphocytes surface may transduce signals that control the survival, proliferation, differentiation, and effector functions of these immune cells. Among the members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, there are 4-1BB and OX40. Several clinical studies have been carried out targeting these molecules, with agonist monoclonal antibodies, and preclinical studies exploring their ligands and other experimental approaches. In this review, we discuss functional aspects of 4-1BB and OX40 costimulation, as well as the progress of its application in immunotherapies.

Introduction

Immunotherapy explores the host immune system to enhance antitumor response. The inhibition of immunological checkpoints, on T cells, such as anti–programed death 1 (PD-1)/programed death 1 ligand (PD-L1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), has been shown to generate long-lasting antitumor immune responses in cancer therapy. However, this approach is effective in only 30% of patients because of mechanisms of tumor resistance (; ). There are several signaling mechanisms that may drive T-cell phenotype switching the balance between immunotolerance and surveillance.

The tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) encodes T-cell costimulatory receptors that may regulate survival, proliferation, differentiation, and effector functions of immune cells, being a potential target for immunotherapy (; ; ; ; ).

Early experiments with activated T cells have described the cell surface 4-1BB receptor (; ). The 4-1BB receptor, also known as TNFRSF9 or CD137, is a 24-kDa protein located on chromosome 1 p36 (; ), which encodes 255 amino acids harboring 64% homology to the murine sequence (; ; ). The 4-1BB receptor is expressed on activated T and B cells, monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), regulatory T cells (Tregs), and natural killer (NK) cells (; ; ; ; ; ). The 4-1BB receptor harbors two cytoplasmic domains that can bind to the TNFR-associated factor (TRAF) in T cells. The mammal TRAF may exhibit conserved C-terminal domains (; ), and CD137 can interact with TRAF1, TRAF2, and TRAF3 (). The interaction between CD137, TRAF1, and TRAF2 activates different signaling cascades such as nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), MAPK (protein kinase activated by mitogen) (; ; ), ERK (kinase regulated by extracellular signal), and JNK (Jun N-terminal kinase) (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ). The activation of the NF-κB pathway upregulates survival genes such as Bcl-XL and Bfl-1, downregulates proapoptotic molecules such as BIM, and transmits signals that stimulate cell division (; ; ). Moreover, the 4-1BB/4-1BB ligand (4-1BBL) signaling triggers biochemical signals that increase TH1 cytokines, such as interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-8, TNF, IL-12, and interferon γ (IFN-γ); suppress TH2 cytokines; potentiate activation, survival, proliferation, and cytotoxicity of T cells; increase IL-2 production; and provoke the maturation of DCs (; ; ; ; ; ; ).

The expression of 4-1BB may be experimentally induced in human and murine T cells, using different mitogenic agents such as PMA (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate), phytohemagglutinin, anti-CD3, lipopolysaccharide, and IL-1β (; ; ). The receptor interacts with 4-1BBL, on the surface of activated antigen-presenting cells (APCs), B cells, macrophages, and other myeloid-derived cells (; ; ). The expression of 4-1BBL also was observed in cancer cells (). The 4-1BB costimulation of T cells does not require additional CD28 signaling when a strong engagement of T-cell receptors (TCRs) occurs, producing high levels of IL-2 and enhancing TH1 response and cytotoxic T-cell activity (; ; ; ; ).

Another T-cell costimulatory receptor that belongs to the TNFRSF family is the OX40 receptor, also known as CD134, TNFRSF4, and ACT35. The OX40 receptor and its ligand (OX40L, TNFSF4, CD252) were first described in mice and harbor 63% homology to that of human (; ; ). The human OX40 gene is located in on chromosome 1p36, encodes 277 amino acids, a 29-kDa protein ().

The OX40 is expressed in activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, Tregs, T follicular helper cells, NK cells, and neutrophils (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ). The antigenic stimulation of the TCR by major histocompatibility complex molecules upregulates OX40 expression on the surface of T cells, which may be potentiated by a CD28–CD80 signaling (; ). The OX40 peak expression is seen from 24 to 72 h after the TCR activation (; ; ). Once expressed, OX40 can bind to OX40L, which is mainly expressed on APCs (; ; ). The OX40/OX40L interaction triggers a signaling cascade, similar to 4-1BB/4-1BBL, inducing transcriptional changes to modulate the immune response, such as T-cell proliferation and survival. The immunomodulatory functions associated with OX40, such as the PKB pathway, promote the inhibition of cellular apoptosis, as well as increase the signaling by TCR antigenic stimuli (). The OX40 stimulation activates NF-κB pathway, which indirectly increases expression of apoptosis-suppressing proteins prolonging cell survival, and the activated T-cell nuclear factor (NFAT) pathway that leads to an increase in the synthesis of cytokines such as IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-γ (). Although, some data suggest the importance of OX40/OX40L signaling for primary and memory TH2 response (; ; ), there are also evidences that OX40 costimulation plays an important role in the TH1 response (; ; ). Therefore, it was observed that OX40 costimulation may enhance both a TH1 and a TH2 response without supporting the role for switching polarization of CD4+ T cells ().

In this review, functional aspects of 4-1BB and OX4 will be discussed, as well as the progress of its application in immunotherapies.

Costimulation of 4-1BB and OX40 Receptors Enhances T-Cell Activity and Potentiates Antitumor Response

Both 4-1BB and OX40 costimulatory signaling on T cells are reported to boost antitumor immune responses (Figure 1).

FIGURE 1

The costimulatory 4-1BB signaling induces clonal expansion, proliferation, cytokine secretion, and long-term T-cell survival (). The 4-1BB costimulation improves the mitochondrial function of T cells, leading to greater longevity and memory capacity of these cells (). Although 4-1BB costimulation transduces a robust costimulatory signal, mainly acting on CD8+ T cells (), mice that constitutively express 4-1BB on CD4+ T cells exhibited heightened and sustained proliferative activity and enhancement of T-cell priming, driving TH1 immune responses, increasing the number of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in tumor masses, augmenting IFN-γ production by T-cell population, mediating tumor suppression, and prolonging mice survival (). This persistence of T cells is crucial for the success of chimeric antigenic receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. The CAR has an extracellular domain that recognizes a target antigen, transducing a signaling to an intracellular domain that boosts T-cell activation. This technology is being used mainly in hematological cancers, with promising results (; ). CAR T cells may employ a cytoplasmic domain of 4-1BB molecule to enhance the antitumor efficacy, the so-called third generation of CART cells. The 4-1BB intracellular signaling domain provides a second costimulatory signal that makes the CAR T-cells more effective and long lasting ().

Similar to 4-1BB/4-1BBL, the OX40/OX40L pathway also triggers strong costimulatory signaling on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, although this effect is more prominent in CD4+ T cells (). The OX40 costimulatory signaling promotes the activation, expansion, proliferation, differentiation, proinflammatory cytokine production, supporting survival of T lymphocytes, and tumor regression (; ; ; ). It was demonstrated that high expression of OX40 in the tumor-infiltrating immune cells in small cell lung cancer induced increased levels of IFN-γ expression and favorable prognosis in patients (). The OX40 costimulatory signaling on exhausted CD8+ T cells could rescue their proliferative potential and cytokine production ().

In addition, agonistic OX40 signaling in Tregs may impair the expression of FOXP3, which is a master key to regulate the Treg-immunosuppressive phenotype (; ; ). As Tregs may antagonize antitumor response inhibiting T-cell proliferation (; ; ), the costimulation of OX40 may inhibit the immunosuppressive activity of Tregs and also the conversion of effector T (Teff) CD4+ T cells into a regulatory T-cell phenotype (; ; ). The role of agonistic 4-1BB signaling on Tregs is controversial. Although most studies demonstrated 4-1BB agonistic signaling enhanced the immunosurveillance activity, there are other reports that describes immunosuppressive activity, as expanding Tregs (; ; ).

Enhancing Antitumor Immunity by Agonistic Antibodies Driven to 4-1BB and OX40 T-Cell Costimulation

The agonistic 4-1BB or OX40 costimulation by monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is widely explored in cancer immunotherapy (; ). There are several clinical trials exploring the therapeutic benefit of mAbs (Table 1). The TNFRSF-targeted costimulatory strategy may be used in combination with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, improving antitumor response (; ). 4-1BB agonist antibodies promote increased T-cell proliferation and survival. These antibodies may also activate NK cells (; ; ; ). The binding of an agonistic mAb induces 4-1BB cell surface receptor internalization, which may trigger signaling from endosomatic compartments, as the polyubiquitination of K63 to recruit TRAF2 and starting the T-cell activation cascade (). The agonistic 4-1BB antibody may act on depletion of Treg cells, and this stimulus seems to be associated with its FCγR engagement and antibody isotype. It was observed the immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) mAb isotype induced an enhanced CD8 T-cell costimulation in an established solid tumor microenvironment. The IgG2a isotype has shown intratumoral Treg depletion and optimal antitumor activity in preclinical model (). The main 4-1BB agonist antibodies used in the clinic are utomilumab (PF-05082566) and urelumab (BMS-663513). Both mAbs are already being used in cancer clinical trials. Whereas the IgG2 utomilumab is safe with relatively low efficacy, the IgG4 urelumab has a great antitumor efficacy, but causes liver damage (; ; ). In addition, urelumab can induce a cluster of 4-1BBL–dependent receptors, unlike utomilumab (). The preliminary results of urelumab trials in 2008 demonstrated efficacy against cancers in advanced stages. However, the treatment with mAb induced liver damage, interrupting the clinical trials. Toxicity is suggested as a consequence of FcγRIIB-mediated CD8+ T-cell activation in the liver, once FcγRIIB is expressed on liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and Kupffer cells (). Urelumab has been evaluated as monotherapy or in combination with other drugs, such as rituximab, cetuximab, elotuzumab, and nivolumab, at lower doses, with no damage to the liver. When associated with rituximab, in the treatment of patients with relapsing or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphomas, the urelumab has demonstrated safety, tolerability, and improvement of the host immune response. Utomilumab promoted a long-lasting response and reduced toxicity in patients with lymphomas. This mAb is being extensively tested in combination with other immunotherapies for different tumors, such as non-small cell lung cancer, kidney, head, and neck cancer (; ).

TABLE 1

mAbsTargetPhaseTumorCombinationProtocol
Utomilumab41BBIIHER2 + Breast cancerAvehnnab (anti-PD-Ll)NCT03414658
Utomilumab41BBIHER2 + Breast cancerTrasluzumab (anti-HER2)NCT03364348
Urelumab41BBIGlioblastomaNivolumab (anti-PDl)NCT02658981
AGEN237341BBIAdvanced Solid TumorNCT04121676
MEDI0562OX40IHead/Neck squamous cell carcinoma MelanomaNCT03336606
MEDI6469OX40lbHead/Neck squamous cell carcinomaSurgical resectionNCT02274155
MEDI6469OX40I/IbMetastatic colorectal cancerRadiofrequency ablationNCT02559024
INBRX-106OX40ILocally Advanced/Metastatic tumorPembrolizumabNCT04198766
PF04518600OX40I/IIAcute myeloid leukemiaAvelumab (anti-PD-Ll) AzacitidineNCT03390296
PF04518600OX40IIMetastatic kidney cancerAxitinib (TK inhibitor)NCT03092856
PF04518600OX40IITriple negative breast cancerAvelumab (anti-PD-Ll)NCT03971409
PF-04518600OX40I/IIAdvanced malignanciesAvelumab (antiPD-Ll) RadiationNCT03217747
INCAGN01949OX40I/IIPancreatic cancerVLP-encapsulated TLR9NCT04387071
SL-279252OX40IAdvanced solid tumor/LymphomaFc anti-PDlNCT03894618

Clinical protocols in progress using costimulatory anti–4-1BB and anti-OX40 monoclonal antibodies.

Innovative strategies based on bispecific antibodies also may be used to overcome systemic toxicity of agonistic 4-1BB, targeting the costimulatory activity to tumor site. A bispecific 4-1BB/HER-2 antibody was engineered to bind HER-2–positive tumor cells and to costimulate T cells. This bispecific antibody was shown to inhibit tumor growth in humanized mice model ().

In addition to the costimulatory 4-1BB mAbs, several studies have also demonstrated the antitumor effect of OX40 agonist antibodies. Mice treated with OX40 mAbs accumulated CD4+ T cells and augmented CD4+ T-cell survival and developing memory T cells (; ). The OX40 agonistic antibody may inhibit immune tolerance (; ).

The use of OX40 agonistic antibody in preclinical models has shown tumor regression in sarcomas, melanoma, colon carcinoma, and glioma (; ; ). In several preclinical and clinical models, OX40 agonist antibodies induce tumor regression due to their ability to prevent the suppression of antitumor immune responses mediated by Tregs. The OX40 costimulation may inhibit Treg activity in three different ways: (i) inhibiting the activity of natural Treg or even the conversion of T cells to Treg phenotype, due to impairing of FOXP3 expression (; ; ); (ii) reducing the suppressive activity by increasing the production of IL-2 and other cytokines (); and (iii) depleting intratumoral Treg cells in an FcγR-dependent manner ().

A phase I clinical trial in patients, with incurable metastatic carcinoma, lymphoma, or sarcoma (NCT01644968), using 9B12, a murine agonistic anti-human OX40 mAb, demonstrated that OX40 mAb treatment induced proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and NK cells, enhanced production of IFN-γ by CD8+ T cells, boosted T- and B-cell antitumor reactivity, and increased memory T cells (). The MOXR 0916, also known as pogalizumab, is a humanized agonistic IgG antibody specific for OX40 that has immunostimulatory and antineoplastic activities. Pogalizumab binds and selectively activates OX40. The activation of OX40 promotes the proliferation of Teff lymphocytes and inhibits the activity of Treg cells in the presence of tumor antigens ().

The combination of agonistic OX40 mAb to the PDL1 inhibitor atezolizumab is being tested in patients who have advanced solid neoplasms (NCT02410512). Recently, reported the development of a new anti-OX40 antibody, the IBI101. This mAb promotes both FcγR-dependent and independent agonistic activities. The combination of IBI101 and anti–PD-L1 has shown a better inhibition of tumor growth in mice model, when compared to the combination of pogalizumab and anti–PD-L1 ().

There are several clinical trials exploring the application of costimulatory anti-OX40 mAbs as adjuvants in other therapies, as anti-OX40 combined to chemotherapy and radiotherapy (NCT01303705), anti-OX40 combined to other immunotherapy and chemotherapy (NCT03390296), and anti-OX40 combined to radiotherapy (NCT01862900, NCT02559024), among others.

Agonistic Signaling Strategies Mediated by the TNFSF Ligands 4-1BBL and OX40L Potentiate T Cell–Mediated Antitumor Response

As reported above, agonistic TNFRSF-driven antibodies may exhibit toxicity associated with the systemic use, as the expression of TNFRs is ubiquitous, and, consequently, the action of these antibodies is not specific to tumor microenvironment (). Therefore, a challenge faced by researchers is to induce a tumor-specific effect, which may reduce toxicity. Back in 2009, the group of Shirwan has developed a murine recombinant 4-1BBL molecule fused to streptavidin (SA–4-1BBL) that exhibited less toxicity when compared to agonistic antibody, lacking FcγR activation (). SA–4-1BBL forms tetramers and oligomers in soluble form, inducing a powerful T-cell costimulatory activity. Further studies have shown this molecule to be safe and effective in murine model of cervical cancer (). SA–4-1BBL could induce an efficient CD4+ T-cell activation while blocking the development of CD4+ Tregs, increasing the Teff-to-Treg ratio (). Prophylactic administration of SA–4-1BBL to tumor-challenged mice was shown to prevent tumor growth, and this was dependent on CD4+ T cell, NK, and IFN-γ production ().

Murine studies with 4-1BBL have shown that NK cells are activated and may respond to the antitumor activity due to 4-1BBL administration (). Dowell et al. have demonstrated that stimulation of human PBMC, both from healthy donors and ovarian carcinoma patients with soluble 4-1BBL and IL-2, promoted expansion of CD56+ NK cells (). Cancer cells transduced with 4-1BBL promote expansion of cytotoxic T cells (; ), as well as NK cells (). It was also observed that stimulation of human NK cells with recombinant 4-1BBL (rh4-1BB) in combination to anti–HER-2 therapy (trastuzumab) enhanced antitumor cytotoxicity in gastric cancer cells ().

The 4-1BBL has also been used in cell-based strategies to stimulate TILs. Gene-pulsed DCs with 4-1BBL enhanced IFN-γ production and T-cell activation (). A lipid-based nanoparticle harboring 4-1BBL is being used for T-cell costimulation, in clinical trials for cancer therapy (NCT03323398, NCT03739931).

As seen for 4-1BBL, the OX40L-expressing cells also stimulate antitumor response. Intratumoral administration of OX40L-expressing DCs promoted the generation of tumor-specific CD4+ and NK T cells, contributing to impaired tumor growth (). Modification of tumor cells with an adenovirus encoding OX40L promoted an efficient TH1 immune response associated with cytotoxic T lymphocytes ().

As observed for combinations of costimulatory mAbs, the OX40L and 4-1BBL dual costimulation has been shown to be effective in reducing tumor growth and enhances mainly the CD8+ T-cell response (; ; ; ; ; ). We and others have shown that the synergy between OX40/OX40L and 4-1BB/4-1BBL also contributes to enhance antitumor immune response (, ; ; ; ). Indeed, our group has previously developed tumor-derived vaccines using B16 melanoma cells line, transduced with 4-1BBL and/or OX40L. We have shown that combination of these vaccines increased antitumor T cell–mediated cytotoxicity, reduction of Tregs, and contributing to tumor rejection in vivo, besides generating a protective effect on rechallenged animals (). Moreover, extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by 4-1BBL and OX40L B16 vaccines were shown to induce T-cell proliferation and inhibit the generation of inducible Treg in vitro (). These findings highlight the exploration of tumor-derived EVs as a potential tool for immunotherapy ().

Oligonucleotide-Derived Aptamers May Be Engineered as Costimulatory Molecules to Enhance Antitumor Immunity

Aptamers are small molecules of single-stranded RNA or DNA oligonucleotides that may exhibit high affinity and selectivity for targets (; ). These molecules exhibit similar properties to antibodies and may have some advantages: (i) aptamers are chemically synthesized and (ii) exhibit high tissue permeability and cell internalization due to its reduced size; (iii) aptamers usually exhibit low toxicity and immunogenicity, and (iv) aptamers may be inactivated by an antidote (; ; ; ).

Several aptamer-based therapeutic application has been explored for cancer (; ).

Preclinical studies have demonstrated an equivalent or even superior functionality of these oligonucleotides compared to mAb molecules, as well as a decrease of the commonly observed side effects of mAbs (; ; ; ; ; , ; ). Aptamers may be employed as antagonist, agonist, and delivery tools (). The first aptamer driven to tumor immunomodulation was an antagonist CTLA-4 aptamer, and then, a number of new aptamers with immunomodulatory activity have been proposed ().

As T-cell surface receptors such as TNFRSF are activated because of cross-link, multivalent aptamer models have been explored to lead T-cell activation and costimulation (; ; ). The possibility of using synthetic linkers of different size and composition was shown. This multimerization strategy allowed to generate functional aptamer molecules that could costimulate 4-1BB and OX40 receptors in T cells that would address improvement of the antitumor immune response (; ). These studies have shown that treatment with aptamers induces a costimulatory effect on tumor environment comparable to the treatment with the corresponding mAb (; ; ).

Considering the side effects of systemic administration of mAb 4-1BB () due to plasticity of engineering, aptamers have been investigated to overcome toxicity, opening a new field of research based on bispecific aptamers. The aim of these approaches is to decrease the off-target effect by driving the costimulatory effect specifically on target cells (; , ). A first study involving a proof of concept of these aptamers developed a bifunctional 4-1BB–prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) conjugate. The PSMA is a membrane antigen highly expressed in some prostate cells. In this way, the 4-1BB portion had a T-cell costimulatory activity, whereas the PSMA portion could drive the molecule to PSMA-expressing tumor cells. The study showed that systemic administrations of bispecific aptamer were able to inhibit tumor growth with the administration of a 10-fold lower dose without occurrence of side effects ().

Another technological approach that has been pursued is the generation of chimeric aptamer to vehiculate siRNA to target cells. Aptamers may bind to cell surface receptors to deliver siRNA to the target cell. This approach is target specific and may reduce possible off-target effects, improving the therapeutic index of the use of siRNA as drug treatment (). A functional study has shown that 4-1BB aptamer was conjugated to a siRNA that negatively regulate the mTOR pathway, decreasing the generation of memory cells in treated animals ().

Despite the variety of preclinical studies involving aptamer molecules for 4-1BB and OX40 and the positive results achieved, these molecules have not been tested in clinical studies yet. The use of aptamer molecules as a therapeutic strategy is considered recent when compared to mAbs, and it has raised attention in the scientific community, proving its safety profile with the first drug approved for clinical use () and with other molecules being pursued for clinical study in the field of tumor immunology (; ).

Conclusion

The 4-1BB and OX40 TNFRSF receptors are associated with several signaling that contribute to potentiate T-cell antitumor activity. Agonistic antibodies are widely used in clinical trials and represent the most explored TNFSF-based costimulatory strategies. The development of agonistic oligonucleotide-derived aptamers driven to TNFSFR elements is also an interesting alternative to antibodies because of the simplicity of production through chemical synthesis and engineering possibilities to generate bispecific aptamers or even vehiculated targeted cargos to enhance T-cell function. Signal transduction at TNFSFR receptors can also be mediated by approaches using 4-1BBL or OX40L ligands. These ligands may be expressed in antitumor vaccines or even used in soluble form, exhibiting therapeutic effect. The costimulatory potential of TNFSF molecules is also explored for T-cell engineering, such as chimeric receptors that encode 4-1BB intracellular domains, which are known to play an important role in the costimulation and maintenance of the activated lymphocyte phenotype. Therapeutic strategies that employ 4-1BB and OX40 costimulation work to switch the balance of the immune system toward immunosurveillance. These strategies can also be associated with immunological checkpoint inhibitors, which target the inhibition of immunosuppression mechanisms favoring the detection and elimination of tumor cells.

Statements

Author contributions

All authors listed have made a substantial, direct and intellectual contribution to the work, and approved it for publication.

Funding

MB – FAPESP, grant 2019/04458-8, IS – FAPESP, PhD fellowship 2018/16449-0, CF – FAPESP, fellowship 2019/13573-5, GL – FAPESP, fellowship 2019/150491, RR – CAPES PhD fellowship, DM – CAPES M.Sc fellowship.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

References

Summary

Keywords

immunotherapy, T cell costimulation, TNFR, 4-1BB, OX40, cancer therapy, aptamers, agonistic antibody

Citation

Mascarelli DE, Rosa RSM, Toscaro JM, Semionatto IF, Ruas LP, Fogagnolo CT, Lima GC and Bajgelman MC (2021) Boosting Antitumor Response by Costimulatory Strategies Driven to 4-1BB and OX40 T-cell Receptors. Front. Cell Dev. Biol. 9:692982. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2021.692982

Received

09 April 2021

Accepted

27 May 2021

Published

30 June 2021

Volume

9 - 2021

Edited by

Rodrigo Nalio Ramos, INSERM U1138 Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers (CRC), France

Reviewed by

Maximilien Grandclaudon, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, United States; Sarantis Korniotis, INSERM U976 Immunologie, Dermatologie, Oncologie, France

Updates

Copyright

*Correspondence: Marcio C. Bajgelman,

This article was submitted to Molecular Medicine, a section of the journal Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

Disclaimer

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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