Rapalogs efficacy relies on the modulation of antitumor T-cell immunity
L Beziaud, L Mansi, P Ravel, EL Marie-Joseph… - Cancer …, 2016 - aacrjournals.org
L Beziaud, L Mansi, P Ravel, EL Marie-Joseph, C Laheurte, L Rangan, F Bonnefoy…
Cancer Research, 2016•aacrjournals.orgThe rapalogs everolimus and temsirolimus that inhibit mTOR signaling are used as
antiproliferative drugs in several cancers. Here we investigated the influence of rapalogs-
mediated immune modulation on their antitumor efficacy. Studies in metastatic renal cell
carcinoma patients showed that everolimus promoted high expansion of FoxP3+ Helios+
Ki67+ regulatory CD4 T cells (Tregs). In these patients, rapalogs strongly enhanced the
suppressive functions of Tregs, mainly in a contact-dependent manner. Paradoxically, a …
antiproliferative drugs in several cancers. Here we investigated the influence of rapalogs-
mediated immune modulation on their antitumor efficacy. Studies in metastatic renal cell
carcinoma patients showed that everolimus promoted high expansion of FoxP3+ Helios+
Ki67+ regulatory CD4 T cells (Tregs). In these patients, rapalogs strongly enhanced the
suppressive functions of Tregs, mainly in a contact-dependent manner. Paradoxically, a …
Abstract
The rapalogs everolimus and temsirolimus that inhibit mTOR signaling are used as antiproliferative drugs in several cancers. Here we investigated the influence of rapalogs-mediated immune modulation on their antitumor efficacy. Studies in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients showed that everolimus promoted high expansion of FoxP3+Helios+Ki67+ regulatory CD4 T cells (Tregs). In these patients, rapalogs strongly enhanced the suppressive functions of Tregs, mainly in a contact-dependent manner. Paradoxically, a concurrent activation of spontaneous tumor-specific Th1 immunity also occurred. Furthermore, a high rate of Eomes+CD8+ T cells was detected in patients after a long-term mTOR inhibition. We found that early changes in the Tregs/antitumor Th1 balance can differentially shape the treatment efficacy. Patients presenting a shift toward decreased Tregs levels and high expansion of antitumor Th1 cells showed better clinical responses. Studies conducted in tumor-bearing mice confirmed the deleterious effect of rapalogs-induced Tregs via a mechanism involving the inhibition of antitumor T-cell immunity. Consequently, the combination of temsirolimus plus CCR4 antagonist, a receptor highly expressed on rapalogs-exposed Tregs, was more effective than monotherapy. Altogether, our results describe for the first time a dual impact of host adaptive antitumor T-cell immunity on the clinical effectiveness of rapalogs and prompt their association with immunotherapies. Cancer Res; 76(14); 4100–12. ©2016 AACR.
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