Concurrent delivery of immune checkpoint blockade modulates T cell dynamics to enhance neoantigen vaccine-generated antitumor immunity

L Liu, J Chen, H Zhang, J Ye, C Moore, C Lu, Y Fang… - Nature cancer, 2022 - nature.com
L Liu, J Chen, H Zhang, J Ye, C Moore, C Lu, Y Fang, YX Fu, B Li
Nature cancer, 2022nature.com
Neoantigen vaccines aiming to induce tumor-specific T cell responses have achieved
promising antitumor effects in early clinical trials. However, the underlying mechanism
regarding response or resistance to this treatment is unclear. Here we observe that
neoantigen vaccine-generated T cells can synergize with the immune checkpoint blockade
for effective tumor control. Specifically, we performed single-cell sequencing on over
100,000 T cells and uncovered that combined therapy induces an antigen-specific CD8 T …
Abstract
Neoantigen vaccines aiming to induce tumor-specific T cell responses have achieved promising antitumor effects in early clinical trials. However, the underlying mechanism regarding response or resistance to this treatment is unclear. Here we observe that neoantigen vaccine-generated T cells can synergize with the immune checkpoint blockade for effective tumor control. Specifically, we performed single-cell sequencing on over 100,000 T cells and uncovered that combined therapy induces an antigen-specific CD8 T cell population with active chemokine signaling (Cxcr3+/Ccl5+), lower co-inhibitory receptor expression (Lag3/Havcr2) and higher cytotoxicity (Fasl+/Gzma+). Furthermore, generation of neoantigen-specific T cells in the draining lymph node is required for combination treatment. Signature genes of this unique population are associated with T cell clonal frequency and better survival in humans. Our study profiles the dynamics of tumor-infiltrating T cells during neoantigen vaccine and immune checkpoint blockade treatments and high-dimensionally identifies neoantigen-reactive T cell signatures for future development of therapeutic strategies.
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