Agonist immunotherapy restores T cell function following MEK inhibition improving efficacy in breast cancer

S Dushyanthen, ZL Teo, F Caramia, P Savas… - Nature …, 2017 - nature.com
S Dushyanthen, ZL Teo, F Caramia, P Savas, CP Mintoff, B Virassamy, MA Henderson…
Nature communications, 2017nature.com
The presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in triple-negative breast cancers is correlated
with improved outcomes. Ras/MAPK pathway activation is associated with significantly lower
levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in triple-negative breast cancers and while MEK
inhibition can promote recruitment of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes to the tumor, here we
show that MEK inhibition adversely affects early onset T-cell effector function. We show that
α-4-1BB and α-OX-40 T-cell agonist antibodies can rescue the adverse effects of MEK …
Abstract
The presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in triple-negative breast cancers is correlated with improved outcomes. Ras/MAPK pathway activation is associated with significantly lower levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in triple-negative breast cancers and while MEK inhibition can promote recruitment of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes to the tumor, here we show that MEK inhibition adversely affects early onset T-cell effector function. We show that α-4-1BB and α-OX-40 T-cell agonist antibodies can rescue the adverse effects of MEK inhibition on T cells in both mouse and human T cells, which results in augmented anti-tumor effects in vivo. This effect is dependent upon increased downstream p38/JNK pathway activation. Taken together, our data suggest that although Ras/MAPK pathway inhibition can increase tumor immunogenicity, the negative impact on T-cell activity is functionally important. This undesirable impact is effectively prevented by combination with T-cell immune agonist immunotherapies resulting in superior therapeutic efficacy.
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