Intratumoral CD40 activation and checkpoint blockade induces T cell-mediated eradication of melanoma in the brain

Nat Commun. 2017 Nov 13;8(1):1447. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-01572-7.

Abstract

CD40 agonists bind the CD40 molecule on antigen-presenting cells and activate them to prime tumor-specific CD8+ T cell responses. Here, we study the antitumor activity and mechanism of action of a nonreplicating adenovirus encoding a chimeric, membrane-bound CD40 ligand (ISF35). Intratumoral administration of ISF35 in subcutaneous B16 melanomas generates tumor-specific, CD8+ T cells that express PD-1 and suppress tumor growth. Combination therapy of ISF35 with systemic anti-PD-1 generates greater antitumor activity than each respective monotherapy. Triple combination of ISF35, anti-PD-1, and anti-CTLA-4 results in complete eradication of injected and noninjected subcutaneous tumors, as well as melanoma tumors in the brain. Therapeutic efficacy is associated with increases in the systemic level of tumor-specific CD8+ T cells, and an increased ratio of intratumoral CD8+ T cells to CD4+ Tregs. These results provide a proof of concept of systemic antitumor activity after intratumoral CD40 triggering with ISF35 in combination with checkpoint blockade for multifocal cancer, including the brain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics
  • Animals
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Brain Neoplasms / therapy*
  • CD4-CD8 Ratio
  • CD40 Antigens / agonists*
  • CD40 Antigens / metabolism
  • CD40 Ligand / genetics
  • CD40 Ligand / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CTLA-4 Antigen / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Female
  • Immunotherapy / methods
  • Melanoma, Experimental / immunology*
  • Melanoma, Experimental / therapy*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / biosynthesis

Substances

  • CD40 Antigens
  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • Pdcd1 protein, mouse
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • CD40 Ligand