CD73 is a cell surface 5'-nucleotidase that converts AMP to adenosine, an immune suppressive molecule. CD73 may promote immune escape in cancer by contributing to the degradation of extracellular ATP released by dying cancer cells in hypoxic tumors or following chemotherapy. However, whether CD73 exerts a critical oncogenic function during tumorigenesis is unknown. In this study, we used genetically deficient mice to investigate its contribution to autochthonous tumor formation. CD73 deficiency suppressed the development of 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA)-induced fibrosarcomas through a mechanism relying upon IFN-γ, natural killer (NK) cells, and CD8(+) T cells. Similarly, CD73 deficiency also suppressed prostate tumorigenesis in TRAMP transgenic mice. Importantly, treatment with an anti-CD73 monoclonal antibody effectively suppressed growth of established MCA-induced tumors or TRAMP-C1 prostate tumors and inhibited the development of TRAMP-C1 lung metastases. The therapeutic activity of anti-CD73 monoclonal antibody against primary tumors was dependent on CD8(+) T cells, whereas its antimetastatic activity was dependent on host CD73 expression independent of T cells or NK cells. Taken together, our findings indicate that CD73 is a critical factor in tumorigenesis and that anti-CD73 antibodies may offer a novel generalized strategy to blunt immune escape and treat cancer.
©2012 AACR