Local IFNα enhances the anti-tumoral efficacy of systemic anti-PD1 to prevent tumor relapse. Issue 2 (25th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guerin, Marion v; Regnier, Fabienne; Thoreau, Maxime; Vimeux, Lene; Benard, Matthieu; Dransart, Estelle; Penny, Hweixian L; Johannes, Ludger; Trautmann, Alain; Bercovici, Nadege
• Is Part Of: Journal for immunotherapy of cancer. Volume 8:Issue 2(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11-25
• Subjects: immunotherapy -- interferon inducers -- lymphocytes -- tumor-infiltrating -- macrophages -- programmed cell death 1 receptor; Cancer -- Immunotherapy -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Immunological aspects -- Periodicals; Tumors -- Immunological aspects -- Periodicals; Immunotherapy -- Periodicals; 616.99406105
• DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-000996
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2051-1426

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Tumor relapse constitutes a major challenge for anti-tumoral treatments, including immunotherapies. Indeed, most cancer-related deaths occur during the tumor relapse phase. Methods: We designed a mouse model of tumor relapse in which mice transplanted with E7 + TC1 tumor cells received a single therapeutic vaccination of STxB-E7+IFNα. Unlike the complete regression observed after two vaccinations, such a treatment induced a transient shrinkage of the tumor mass, followed by a rapid tumor outgrowth. To prevent this relapse, we tested the efficacy of a local administration of IFNα together with a systemic therapy with anti-PD1 Ab. The immune response was analyzed during both the tumor regression and relapse phases. Results: We show that, during the regression phase, tumors of mice treated with a single vaccination of STxB-E7 + IFNα harbor fewer activated CD8 T cells and monocytes than tumors doomed to fully regress after two vaccinations. In contrast, the systemic injection of an anti-PD1 Ab combined with the peri-tumoral injection of IFNα in this time frame promotes infiltration of activated CD8 T cells and myeloid cells, which, together, exert a high cytotoxicity in vitro against TC1 cells. Moreover, the IFNα and anti-PD1 Ab combination was found to be more efficient than IFNα or anti-PD1 used alone in preventing tumor relapse and was better able to prolong mice survival. Conclusions: Together, these results indicate that the local increase of IFNα in combination with an anti-PD1 therapy is an effective way to promote efficient and durable innate and adaptive immune responses preventing tumor relapse.