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In situ vaccination via tissue-targeted cDC1 expansion enhances the immunogenicity of chemoradiation and immunotherapy
Brandon Lam, … , Chien-Fu Hung, T.-C. Wu
Brandon Lam, … , Chien-Fu Hung, T.-C. Wu
Published November 2, 2023
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2024;134(1):e171621. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI171621.
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Research Article Immunology

In situ vaccination via tissue-targeted cDC1 expansion enhances the immunogenicity of chemoradiation and immunotherapy

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Abstract

Even with the prolific clinical use of next-generation cancer therapeutics, many tumors remain unresponsive or become refractory to therapy, creating a medical need. In cancer, DCs are indispensable for T cell activation, so there is a restriction on cytotoxic T cell immunity if DCs are not present in sufficient numbers in the tumor and draining lymph nodes to take up and present relevant cancer antigens. To address this bottleneck, we developed a therapeutic based on albumin fused with FMS-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Alb-Flt3L) that demonstrated superior pharmacokinetic properties compared with Flt3L, including significantly longer half-life, accumulation in tumors and lymph nodes, and cross-presenting-DC expansion following a single injection. We demonstrated that Alb-Flt3L, in combination with standard-of-care chemotherapy and radiation therapy, serves as an in situ vaccination strategy capable of engendering polyclonal tumor neoantigen–specific immunity spontaneously. In addition, Alb-Flt3L–mediated tumor control synergized with immune checkpoint blockade delivered as anti–PD-L1. The mechanism of action of Alb-Flt3L treatment revealed a dependency on Batf3, type I IFNs, and plasmacytoid DCs. Finally, the ability of Alb-Flt3L to expand human DCs was explored in humanized mice. We observed significant expansion of human cross-presenting-DC subsets, supporting the notion that Alb-Flt3L could be used clinically to modulate human DC populations in future cancer therapeutic regimens.

Authors

Brandon Lam, Yu Jui Kung, John Lin, Ssu-Hsueh Tseng, Hsin-Fang Tu, Claire Huang, Brandon Lee, Esteban Velarde, Ya Chea Tsai, Rafael Villasmil, Sung Taek Park, Deyin Xing, Chien-Fu Hung, T.-C. Wu

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Figure 4

Alb-Flt3L synergizes with chemotherapy and anti–PD-L1 to promote superior Batf3-dependent tumor control.

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Alb-Flt3L synergizes with chemotherapy and anti–PD-L1 to promote superio...
C57BL/6 mice were inoculated with 2 × 105 TC-1 tumor cells subcutaneously. Eight days later, mice were treated with Alb-Flt3L followed by cisplatin 24 hours later. The treatment regimen consisting of Alb-Flt3L followed by cisplatin was performed every 5 days for a total of 3 times. (A) Tumor growth and (B) survival curves of TC-1 tumor–bearing mice treated with the indicated reagents (n = 5). For the assessment of tumor control in large tumors, C57BL/6 mice were inoculated with 2 × 105 TC-1 tumor cells subcutaneously (n = 5). Tumors were allowed to grow until they reached more than 300 mm3, which was approximately 21 days. Mice were then treated with 100 μg of Alb-Flt3L or 20 μg of Flt3L (equimolar amounts); cisplatin was administered 24 hours later. This regimen was administered approximately every 3 to 4 days for a total of 3 cycles. Alb-Flt3L or Flt3L treatment continued every approximately 3 days. (C) Tumor growth curves for TC-1 large tumor experiment. WT C57BL/6 mice were inoculated with 2 × 105 TC-1 tumor cells (n = 5). Twenty days later, the mice were treated with Alb-Flt3L, Flt3L, cisplatin, cisplatin + Flt3L, cisplatin + Alb-Flt3L, or vehicle (control). (D) Tumor growth curves following treatment of WT or Batf3–/– mice with Alb-Flt3L + cisplatin (n = 5). PBMCs were collected from mice 20 days after initiation of treatment and prepared for flow cytometry. Percentages of (E) CD4+Ki-67+, (F) CD8+Ki-67+, (G) CD4+IFN-γ+, and (H) CD8+IFN-γ+ cells in WT or Batf3–/– mice treated with Alb-Flt3L + cisplatin (n = 5). Data shown are the percentage of parental cells (CD4+ or CD8+ T cells) (n = 5). TC-1–bearing WT C57BL/6 mice were administered blocking or depleting antibodies as indicated and treated with Alb-Flt3L + cisplatin and (I) tumor growth was determined (n = 5). (J) Similar to I, but in Batf3–/– mice (n = 5). TC-1 tumor–bearing mice were treated with 4 doses of anti–PD-L1 every 3 days starting on day 5. In addition, Alb-Flt3L was administered every 3 days starting on day 5. Cisplatin was administered on days 21 and 28 after tumor inoculation. (K) Tumor growth and (L) survival curves for the indicated treatment groups (n = 9). PBMCs were collected 30 days following tumor inoculation and prepared for flow cytometry. Frequency of (M) CD4+Ki-67+, (N) CD8+Ki-67+, (O) CD4+IFN-γ+, (P) CD8+IFN-γ+, (Q) CD4+TNF-α+, and (R) CD8+TNF-α+ cells among PBMCs in the indicated treatment groups. Data shown are the percentages of parental cells (CD4+ or CD8+ T cells) (n = 9). **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001 by 1-way ANOVA (bar graphs) or 2-way ANOVA (tumor growth curves), except tumor survival curves in B and L, which were assessed using the log-rank test, and 2-group comparisons, which used the 2-tailed Student’s t test (E–H).

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