Immune-based antitumor effects of BRAF inhibitors rely on signaling by CD40L and IFNγ.

Abstract

B-Raf(V600E) inhibitors have been suggested to promote tumor regression with the help of host immunity, but this hypothesis has not been examined directly in detail. In this study, we profiled immunologic changes in the tumor microenvironment and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in a B-RafV600E/Pten-driven murine model of melanoma after administration of the B-Raf(V600E) small molecule inhibitor PLX4720. In this model, we found that as tumors developed, they gradually acquired immunosuppressive features, including accumulation of regulatory T cells (Treg) and CD11b(+)/Gr-1(+) myeloid cells and loss of Th1 effector functions on CD4(+) TILs, such as CD40L and IFNγ expression. PLX4720 administration promoted development of a more immune stimulatory microenvironment associated with a relative increase in CD40L and IFNγ expression on intratumoral CD4(+) TILs and a reduced accumulation of Tregs and CD11b(+)/Gr-1(+) myeloid cells. Strikingly, CD40L or IFNγ blockade compromised the ability of PLX4720 to inhibit melanoma growth. Supporting this result, agonistic CD40 antibody was sufficient to evoke antitumor immunity and suppress tumor growth in tumor-bearing mice. Taken together, our results establish the critical role of immune-related changes, with key contributions for CD40L and IFNγ signaling in the antitumor responses triggered in vivo by B-Raf(V600E) inhibitors.

• Authors: Ping-Chih Ho, Katrina M Meeth, Yao-Chen Tsui, Bhaskar Srivastava, Marcus W Bosenberg, Susan M Kaech
• Journal: Cancer research (Cancer Res) Vol. 74 Issue 12 Pg. 3205-17 (Jun 15 2014) ISSN: 1538-7445 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24736544 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
• Copyright: ©2014 American Association for Cancer Research.

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Indoles
• PLX 4720
• Sulfonamides
• CD40 Ligand
• Interferon-gamma
• Braf protein, mouse
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf

Topics

• Animals
• Antigen-Presenting Cells (drug effects, immunology)
• Antineoplastic Agents (pharmacology)
• CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes (drug effects, immunology)
• CD40 Ligand (physiology)
• Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
• Indoles (pharmacology)
• Interferon-gamma (physiology)
• Macrophages (drug effects, immunology)
• Melanoma, Experimental (drug therapy, immunology, metabolism)
• Mice
• Mice, Transgenic
• Mutation, Missense
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf (antagonists & inhibitors, genetics, metabolism)
• Signal Transduction
• Skin Neoplasms (drug therapy, immunology, metabolism)
• Sulfonamides (pharmacology)
• Tumor Microenvironment (immunology)