[HTML][HTML] STING activation reprograms tumor vasculatures and synergizes with VEGFR2 blockade

H Yang, WS Lee, SJ Kong, CG Kim… - The Journal of …, 2019 - Am Soc Clin Investig
H Yang, WS Lee, SJ Kong, CG Kim, JH Kim, SK Chang, S Kim, G Kim, HJ Chon, C Kim
The Journal of clinical investigation, 2019Am Soc Clin Investig
The stimulator of IFN genes (STING) signaling pathway is a critical link between innate and
adaptive immunity and induces antitumor immune responses. STING is expressed in
vasculatures, but its role in tumor angiogenesis has not been elucidated. Here, we
investigated STING-induced tumor vascular remodeling and the potential of STING-based
combination immunotherapy. Endothelial STING expression was correlated with enhanced
T cell infiltration and prolonged survival in human colon and breast cancer. Intratumoral …
The stimulator of IFN genes (STING) signaling pathway is a critical link between innate and adaptive immunity and induces antitumor immune responses. STING is expressed in vasculatures, but its role in tumor angiogenesis has not been elucidated. Here, we investigated STING-induced tumor vascular remodeling and the potential of STING-based combination immunotherapy. Endothelial STING expression was correlated with enhanced T cell infiltration and prolonged survival in human colon and breast cancer. Intratumoral STING activation with STING agonists (cGAMP or RR-CDA) normalized tumor vasculatures in implanted and spontaneous cancers, but not in STING-deficient mice. These were mediated by upregulation of type I/II IFN genes and vascular stabilizing genes (e.g., Angpt1, Pdgfrb, and Col4a). STING in nonhematopoietic cells is as important as STING in hematopoietic cells for inducing a maximal therapeutic efficacy of exogenous STING agonists. Vascular normalizing effects of STING agonists were dependent on type I IFN signaling and CD8+ T cells. Notably, STING-based immunotherapy was maximally effective when combined with VEGFR2 blockade and/or immune-checkpoint blockade (αPD-1 or αCTLA-4), leading to complete regression of immunotherapy-resistant tumors. Our data show that intratumoral STING activation can normalize tumor vasculature and the tumor microenvironment, providing a rationale for combining STING-based immunotherapy and antiangiogenic therapy.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation