NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity contributes to tumor control by a cytostatic drug combination

Science. 2018 Dec 21;362(6421):1416-1422. doi: 10.1126/science.aas9090.

Abstract

Molecularly targeted therapies aim to obstruct cell autonomous programs required for tumor growth. We show that mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors act in combination to suppress the proliferation of KRAS-mutant lung cancer cells while simultaneously provoking a natural killer (NK) cell surveillance program leading to tumor cell death. The drug combination, but neither agent alone, promotes retinoblastoma (RB) protein-mediated cellular senescence and activation of the immunomodulatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). SASP components tumor necrosis factor-α and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 are required for NK cell surveillance of drug-treated tumor cells, which contributes to tumor regressions and prolonged survival in a KRAS-mutant lung cancer mouse model. Therefore, molecularly targeted agents capable of inducing senescence can produce tumor control through non-cell autonomous mechanisms involving NK cell surveillance.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Aminopyridines / pharmacology
  • Aminopyridines / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Apoptosis
  • Benzimidazoles / pharmacology
  • Benzimidazoles / therapeutic use
  • Cellular Senescence
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 6 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Cytostatic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cytostatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic*
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Surveillance*
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Mutation
  • Piperazines / pharmacology
  • Piperazines / therapeutic use
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics
  • Purines / pharmacology
  • Purines / therapeutic use
  • Pyridines / pharmacology
  • Pyridines / therapeutic use
  • Pyridones / pharmacology
  • Pyridones / therapeutic use
  • Pyrimidinones / pharmacology
  • Pyrimidinones / therapeutic use
  • Retinoblastoma Protein / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Aminopyridines
  • Benzimidazoles
  • Cytostatic Agents
  • KRAS protein, human
  • Piperazines
  • Purines
  • Pyridines
  • Pyridones
  • Pyrimidinones
  • Retinoblastoma Protein
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
  • trametinib
  • abemaciclib
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 6
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
  • palbociclib
  • ribociclib