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Tankov S, Petrovic M, Lecoultre M, Espinoza F, El-Harane N, Bes V, Chliate S, Bedoya DM, Jordan O, Borchard G, Migliorini D, Dutoit V, Walker PR. Hypoxic glioblastoma-cell-derived extracellular vesicles impair cGAS-STING activity in macrophages. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:144. [PMID: 38389103 PMCID: PMC10882937 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01523-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Solid tumors such as glioblastoma (GBM) exhibit hypoxic zones that are associated with poor prognosis and immunosuppression through multiple cell intrinsic mechanisms. However, release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) has the potential to transmit molecular cargos between cells. If hypoxic cancer cells use EVs to suppress functions of macrophages under adequate oxygenation, this could be an important underlying mechanism contributing to the immunosuppressive and immunologically cold tumor microenvironment of tumors such as GBM. METHODS EVs were isolated by differential ultracentrifugation from GBM cell culture supernatant. EVs were thoroughly characterized by transmission and cryo-electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), and EV marker expression by Western blot and fluorescent NTA. EV uptake by macrophage cells was observed using confocal microscopy. The transfer of miR-25/93 as an EV cargo to macrophages was confirmed by miRNA real-time qPCR. The impact of miR-25/93 on the polarization of recipient macrophages was shown by transcriptional analysis, cytokine secretion and functional assays using co-cultured T cells. RESULTS We show that indirect effects of hypoxia can have immunosuppressive consequences through an EV and microRNA dependent mechanism active in both murine and human tumor and immune cells. Hypoxia enhanced EV release from GBM cells and upregulated expression of miR-25/93 both in cells and in EV cargos. Hypoxic GBM-derived EVs were taken up by macrophages and the miR-25/93 cargo was transferred, leading to impaired cGAS-STING pathway activation revealed by reduced type I IFN expression and secretion by macrophages. The EV-treated macrophages downregulated expression of M1 polarization-associated genes Cxcl9, Cxcl10 and Il12b, and had reduced capacity to attract activated T cells and to reactivate them to release IFN-γ, key components of an efficacious anti-tumor immune response. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest a mechanism by which immunosuppressive consequences of hypoxia mediated via miRNA-25/93 can be exported from hypoxic GBM cells to normoxic macrophages via EVs, thereby contributing to more widespread T-cell mediated immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stoyan Tankov
- Translational Research Center in Onco-Hematology (CRTOH), Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Léman, Geneva and Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marija Petrovic
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Marc Lecoultre
- Translational Research Center in Onco-Hematology (CRTOH), Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Léman, Geneva and Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Felipe Espinoza
- Translational Research Center in Onco-Hematology (CRTOH), Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Léman, Geneva and Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nadia El-Harane
- Translational Research Center in Onco-Hematology (CRTOH), Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Léman, Geneva and Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Viviane Bes
- Translational Research Center in Onco-Hematology (CRTOH), Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Léman, Geneva and Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sylvie Chliate
- Translational Research Center in Onco-Hematology (CRTOH), Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Léman, Geneva and Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Darel Martinez Bedoya
- Translational Research Center in Onco-Hematology (CRTOH), Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Léman, Geneva and Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Jordan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Gerrit Borchard
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Denis Migliorini
- Translational Research Center in Onco-Hematology (CRTOH), Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Léman, Geneva and Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Valérie Dutoit
- Translational Research Center in Onco-Hematology (CRTOH), Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Léman, Geneva and Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Paul R Walker
- Translational Research Center in Onco-Hematology (CRTOH), Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Swiss Cancer Center Léman, Geneva and Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Lecoultre M, Chliate S, Espinoza FI, Tankov S, Dutoit V, Walker PR. Radio-chemotherapy of glioblastoma cells promotes phagocytosis by macrophages in vitro. Radiother Oncol 2024; 190:110049. [PMID: 38072365 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2023.110049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Immunotherapy is actively explored in glioblastoma (GBM) to improve patient prognosis. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are abundant in GBM and harnessing their function for anti-tumor immunity is of interest. They are plastic cells that are influenced by the tumor microenvironment, by radio-chemotherapy and by their own phagocytic activity. Indeed, the engulfment of necrotic cells promotes pro-inflammatory (and anti-tumoral) functions while the engulfment of apoptotic cells promotes anti-inflammatory (and pro-tumoral) functions through efferocytosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS To model the effect of radio-chemotherapy on the GBM microenvironment, we exposed human macrophages to supernatant of treated GBM cells in vitro. Macrophages were derived from human monocytes and GBM cells from patient-resected tumors. GBM cells were exposed to therapeutically relevant doses of irradiation and chemotherapy. Apoptosis and phagocytic activity were assessed by flow cytometry. RESULTS The phagocytic activity of macrophages was increased, and it was correlated with the proportion of apoptotic GBM cells producing the supernatant. Whether uptake of apoptotic tumor cells could occur would depend upon the expression of efferocytosis-associated receptors. Indeed, we showed that efferocytosis-associated receptors, such as AXL, were upregulated. CONCLUSIONS AND PERSPECTIVES We showed that macrophage phagocytic activity increased when exposed to supernatant from GBM cells treated by radio-chemotherapy. However, as efferocytosis-associated receptors were up-regulated, this effect could be deleterious for the anti-GBM immune response. We speculate that by inducing GBM cell apoptosis in parallel to an increase in efferocytosis receptor expression, the impact of radio-chemotherapy on phagocytic activity could promote anti-inflammatory and pro-tumoral TAM functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Lecoultre
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Immunobiology of Brain Tumours Laboratory, Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva Switzerland; Division of General Internal Medicine, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sylvie Chliate
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Immunobiology of Brain Tumours Laboratory, Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva Switzerland
| | - Felipe I Espinoza
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Immunobiology of Brain Tumours Laboratory, Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva Switzerland
| | - Stoyan Tankov
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Immunobiology of Brain Tumours Laboratory, Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva Switzerland
| | - Valérie Dutoit
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Immunobiology of Brain Tumours Laboratory, Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva Switzerland; Faculty of Medicine, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Center of Oncology, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Paul R Walker
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Immunobiology of Brain Tumours Laboratory, Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva Switzerland.
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El Shemerly M, Zanini E, Lecoultre M, Walker PR, Kellenberger L, Lane HA, McSheehy PMJ. Derazantinib, a fibroblast growth factor receptor inhibitor, inhibits colony-stimulating factor receptor-1 in macrophages and tumor cells and in combination with a murine programmed cell death ligand-1-antibody activates the immune environment of murine syngeneic tumor models. Anticancer Drugs 2023; 34:1035-1045. [PMID: 36729099 DOI: 10.1097/cad.0000000000001480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Derazantinib (DZB) is an inhibitor of the fibroblast growth factor receptors 1-3 (FGFRi) with similar potency against colony-stimulating factor receptor-1 (CSF1R), a protein important in the recruitment and function of tumor-associated macrophages. DZB inhibited pCSF1R in the macrophage cell line RAW264.7, and tumor cells GDM-1 and DEL, and had the same potency in HeLa cells transiently over-expressing FGFR2. DZB exhibited similar potency against pCSF1R expressed by isolated murine macrophages, but as in the cell lines, specific FGFRi were without significant CSF1R activity. DZB inhibited growth of three tumor xenograft models with reported expression or amplification of CSF1R, whereas the specific FGFRi, pemigatinib, had no efficacy. In the FGFR-driven syngeneic breast tumor-model, 4T1, DZB was highly efficacious causing tumor stasis. A murine PD-L1 antibody was without efficacy in this model, but combined with DZB, increased efficacy against the primary tumor and further reduced liver, spine and lung metastases. Immunohistochemistry of primary 4T1 tumors showed that the combination favored an antitumor immune infiltrate by strongly increasing cytotoxic T, natural killer and T-helper cells. Similar modulation of the tumor microenvironment was observed in an FGFR-insensitive syngeneic bladder model, MBT-2. These data confirm CSF1R as an important oncology target for DZB and provide mechanistic insight for the ongoing clinical trials, in which DZB is combined with the PD-L1 antibody, atezolizumab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud El Shemerly
- Department of Cancer Biology, Basilea Pharmaceutica International Limited, Allschwil
| | - Elisa Zanini
- Department of Cancer Biology, Basilea Pharmaceutica International Limited, Allschwil
| | - Marc Lecoultre
- Department of Internal Medicine Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, CMU, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Paul R Walker
- Department of Internal Medicine Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, CMU, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Laurenz Kellenberger
- Department of Cancer Biology, Basilea Pharmaceutica International Limited, Allschwil
| | - Heidi A Lane
- Department of Cancer Biology, Basilea Pharmaceutica International Limited, Allschwil
| | - Paul M J McSheehy
- Department of Cancer Biology, Basilea Pharmaceutica International Limited, Allschwil
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Lecoultre M, Dutoit V, Walker PR. Phagocytic function of tumor-associated macrophages as a key determinant of tumor progression control: a review. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 8:jitc-2020-001408. [PMID: 33335026 PMCID: PMC7747550 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) phagocytic activity is emerging as a new mechanism to harness for cancer treatment. Currently, many approaches are investigated at the preclinical level and some modalities have now reached clinical trials, including the targeting of the phagocytosis inhibitor CD47. The rationale for increasing TAM phagocytic activity is to improve innate anticancer immunity, and to promote T-cell mediated adaptive immune responses. In this context, a clear understanding of the impact of TAM phagocytosis on both innate and adaptive immunity is critical. Indeed, uncertainties persist regarding the capacity of TAM to present tumor antigens to CD8 T cells by cross-presentation. This process is critical for an optimal cytotoxic T-cell immune response and can be mediated by dendritic cells but also potentially by macrophages. In addition, the engulfment of cancer cells affects TAM functionality, as apoptotic cell uptake (a process termed efferocytosis) promotes macrophage anti-inflammatory functions. Because of the abundance of TAM in most solid tumors and the common use of apoptosis inducers such as radiotherapy to treat patients with cancer, efferocytosis potentially affects the overall immune balance within the tumor microenvironment (TME). In this review, we will discuss how cancer cell phagocytosis by TAM impacts antitumor immunity. First, we will focus on the potential of the phagocytic activity of TAM per se to control tumor progression. Second, we will examine the potential of TAM to act as antigen presenting cells for tumor specific CD8 T cells, considering the different characteristics of this process in the tumor tissue and at the molecular level. Finally, we will see how phagocytosis and efferocytosis affect TAM functionality and how these mechanisms impact on antitumor immunity. A better understanding of these aspects will enable us to better predict and interpret the consequences of cancer therapies on the immune status of the TME. Future cancer treatment regimens can thereby be designed to not only impact directly on cancer cells, but also to favorably modulate TAM phagocytic activity to benefit from the potential of this central immune player to achieve more potent therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Lecoultre
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Valérie Dutoit
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Faculty of Medicine, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Center of Oncology, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Paul R Walker
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland .,Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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McSheehy P, Bachmann F, Forster-Gross N, Lecoultre M, Shemerly ME, Roceri M, Reinelt S, Kellenberger L, Walker PR, Lane H. Abstract LB-C12: Derazantinib (DZB): A dual FGFR/CSF1R-inhibitor active in PDX-models of urothelial cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2019. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.targ-19-lb-c12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background: DZB is an oral small-molecule Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1/2/3 inhibitor (FGFRi) with clinically relevant activity in FGFR2-fusion cholangiocarcinoma. Extensive kinase profiling identified Colony-Stimulating Factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) as an additional anti-cancer target for DZB. CSF1R plays a role in the maintenance of tumor-promoting M2-macrophages; inhibition facilitates repolarization to M1-type thus restoring tumor T cell activity. Screening of urothelial cancer (UC) models both in vitro and in vivo has provided information on potential response biomarkers additional to FGFR genetic aberrations. Methods: Kinase assays used a radiometric assay and anti-proliferative activity was assessed using crystal-violet (72h incubation). Bone-marrow derived mouse macrophages were CSF1 starved (12h), pre-incubated with DZB/BLZ945 (30/10m) and stimulated with 0.3 μM CSF1 (3m). CSF1R phosphorylation (pCSF1R) was analyzed by immunoblotting. Compound docking experiments used MOE software and public X-ray structures. DZB was tested at MTD (75 mg/kg, po, qd) in UC-CDX (8 mice/group) and -PDX (3 mice/group) models with FGFR-mutations and/or differing FGFR copy-number (CN)/RNA-seq expression levels. Efficacy and tolerability were quantified at the 3-week endpoint as a dT/C (treated/control). Results: Comparative kinase IC50s showed that DZB had 1:1 nM activity against FGFR1/2/3 and CSF1R, a potency not observed for other clinically relevant FGFRi’s. Structural analyses suggested a different size of the inhibitor binding-site of FGFR- and CSF1R-structures, with DZB efficiently occupying the smaller CSF1R kinase sub-pocket. Indeed, DZB reduced ligand-stimulated pCSF1R in mouse macrophages in a concentration-dependent manner, with a maximal effect similar to the selective CSF1R inhibitor BLZ945. Based on an in vitro anti-proliferative screen across 14 UC-lines, DZB had a mean GI50 of 1.7±0.2 μM (range 0.4-3.4 μM). The most sensitive lines were RT4 and RT112/84, both of which had FGFR3-TACC3 fusions, a known oncogenic-driver. In mice bearing s.c. RT4 tumors, DZB induced tumor-stasis (dT/C<0.1) and was well tolerated (dT/C>1.0) but no response was observed in the RT112/84 model suggesting that not only FGFR mutations contribute to DZB response. An unbiased UC-PDX screen indicated efficacy in 4/17 models (dT/C≤0.4; median=0.81) with DZB-response significantly positively-associated with high FGFR expression. The most sensitive tumor had high FGFR2 RNA-expression yet low CN. Data will be presented from confirmatory efficacy experiments and bioinformatic analyses. Conclusion: DZB is a potent FGFRi and CSF1R inhibitor. Screens in UC models indicate that DZB efficacy is driven by FGFR mutation and expression and, potentially, CSF1R modulation. A clinical trial is ongoing in UC patients (NCT04045613) to assess DZB monotherapy, and combination with the PD-L1 antibody atezolizumab.
Citation Format: Paul McSheehy, Felix Bachmann, Nicole Forster-Gross, Marc Lecoultre, Mahmoud El Shemerly, Mila Roceri, Stefan Reinelt, Laurenz Kellenberger, Paul R Walker, Heidi Lane. Derazantinib (DZB): A dual FGFR/CSF1R-inhibitor active in PDX-models of urothelial cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2019 Oct 26-30; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2019;18(12 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-C12. doi:10.1158/1535-7163.TARG-19-LB-C12
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Mila Roceri
- 1Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd., Basel
| | | | | | | | - Heidi Lane
- 1Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd., Basel
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