[HTML][HTML] In vivo macrophage engineering reshapes the tumor microenvironment leading to eradication of liver metastases

T Kerzel, G Giacca, S Beretta, C Bresesti, M Notaro… - Cancer Cell, 2023 - cell.com
T Kerzel, G Giacca, S Beretta, C Bresesti, M Notaro, GM Scotti, C Balestrieri, T Canu…
Cancer Cell, 2023cell.com
Liver metastases are associated with poor response to current pharmacological treatments,
including immunotherapy. We describe a lentiviral vector (LV) platform to selectively
engineer liver macrophages, including Kupffer cells and tumor-associated macrophages
(TAMs), to deliver type I interferon (IFNα) to liver metastases. Gene-based IFNα delivery
delays the growth of colorectal and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma liver metastases in
mice. Response to IFNα is associated with TAM immune activation, enhanced MHC-II …
Summary
Liver metastases are associated with poor response to current pharmacological treatments, including immunotherapy. We describe a lentiviral vector (LV) platform to selectively engineer liver macrophages, including Kupffer cells and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), to deliver type I interferon (IFNα) to liver metastases. Gene-based IFNα delivery delays the growth of colorectal and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma liver metastases in mice. Response to IFNα is associated with TAM immune activation, enhanced MHC-II-restricted antigen presentation and reduced exhaustion of CD8+ T cells. Conversely, increased IL-10 signaling, expansion of Eomes CD4+ T cells, a cell type displaying features of type I regulatory T (Tr1) cells, and CTLA-4 expression are associated with resistance to therapy. Targeting regulatory T cell functions by combinatorial CTLA-4 immune checkpoint blockade and IFNα LV delivery expands tumor-reactive T cells, attaining complete response in most mice. These findings support a promising therapeutic strategy with feasible translation to patients with unmet medical need.
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