[HTML][HTML] Single-cell profiling guided combinatorial immunotherapy for fast-evolving CDK4/6 inhibitor-resistant HER2-positive breast cancer

Q Wang, IH Guldner, SM Golomb, L Sun… - Nature …, 2019 - nature.com
Q Wang, IH Guldner, SM Golomb, L Sun, JA Harris, X Lu, S Zhang
Nature communications, 2019nature.com
Acquired resistance to targeted cancer therapy is a significant clinical challenge. In parallel
with clinical trials combining CDK4/6 inhibitors to treat HER2+ breast cancer, we sought to
prospectively model tumor evolution in response to this regimen in vivo and identify a
clinically actionable strategy to combat drug resistance. Despite a promising initial response,
acquired resistance emerges rapidly to the combination of anti-HER2/neu antibody and
CDK4/6 inhibitor Palbociclib. Using high-throughput single-cell profiling over the course of …
Abstract
Acquired resistance to targeted cancer therapy is a significant clinical challenge. In parallel with clinical trials combining CDK4/6 inhibitors to treat HER2+ breast cancer, we sought to prospectively model tumor evolution in response to this regimen in vivo and identify a clinically actionable strategy to combat drug resistance. Despite a promising initial response, acquired resistance emerges rapidly to the combination of anti-HER2/neu antibody and CDK4/6 inhibitor Palbociclib. Using high-throughput single-cell profiling over the course of treatments, we reveal a distinct immunosuppressive immature myeloid cell (IMC) population to infiltrate the resistant tumors. Guided by single-cell transcriptome analysis, we demonstrate that combination of IMC-targeting tyrosine kinase inhibitor cabozantinib and immune checkpoint blockade enhances anti-tumor immunity, and overcomes the resistance. Furthermore, sequential combinatorial immunotherapy enables a sustained control of the fast-evolving CDK4/6 inhibitor-resistant tumors. Our study demonstrates a translational framework for treating rapidly evolving tumors through preclinical modeling and single-cell analyses.
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