Irreversible electroporation reverses resistance to immune checkpoint blockade in pancreatic cancer

Nat Commun. 2019 Feb 22;10(1):899. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-08782-1.

Abstract

Immunotherapy has only limited efficacy against pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) due to the presence of an immunosuppressive tumor-associated stroma. Here, we demonstrate an effective modulation of that stroma by irreversible electroporation (IRE), a local ablation technique that has received regulatory approval in the United States. IRE induces immunogenic cell death, activates dendritic cells, and alleviates stroma-induced immunosuppression without depleting tumor-restraining collagen. The combination of IRE and anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD1) immune checkpoint blockade promotes selective tumor infiltration by CD8+ T cells and significantly prolongs survival in a murine orthotopic PDAC model with a long-term memory immune response. Our results suggest that IRE is a promising approach to potentiate the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade in PDAC.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Alarmins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • B7-H1 Antigen / antagonists & inhibitors
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / therapy*
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Electroporation / methods*
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Melanoma, Experimental / therapy*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / metabolism

Substances

  • Alarmins
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • CD274 protein, human
  • KRAS protein, human
  • PDCD1 protein, human
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)