Tumor-targeted TNFα stabilizes tumor vessels and enhances active immunotherapy

A Johansson, J Hamzah, CJ Payne… - Proceedings of the …, 2012 - National Acad Sciences
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2012National Acad Sciences
Solid tumors are intrinsically resistant to immune rejection. Abnormal tumor vasculature can
act as a barrier for immune cell migration into tumors. We tested whether targeting IFNγ
and/or TNFα into pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors can alleviate immune suppression. We
found that intratumoral IFNγ causes rapid vessel loss, which does not support anti-tumor
immunity. In contrast, low-dose TNFα enhances T-cell infiltration and overall survival, an
effect that is exclusively mediated by CD8+ effector cells. Intriguingly, lymphocyte influx does …
Solid tumors are intrinsically resistant to immune rejection. Abnormal tumor vasculature can act as a barrier for immune cell migration into tumors. We tested whether targeting IFNγ and/or TNFα into pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors can alleviate immune suppression. We found that intratumoral IFNγ causes rapid vessel loss, which does not support anti-tumor immunity. In contrast, low-dose TNFα enhances T-cell infiltration and overall survival, an effect that is exclusively mediated by CD8+ effector cells. Intriguingly, lymphocyte influx does not correlate with increased vessel leakiness. Instead, low-dose TNFα stabilizes the vascular network and improves vessel perfusion. Inflammatory vessel remodeling is, at least in part, mediated by tumor-resident macrophages that are reprogrammed to secrete immune and angiogenic modulators. Moreover, inflammatory vessel remodeling with low-dose TNFα substantially improves antitumor vaccination or adoptive T-cell therapy. Thus, low-dose TNFα promotes both vessel remodeling and antitumor immune responses and acts as a potent adjuvant for active immunotherapy.
National Acad Sciences