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Wang Y, Liu F, Du X, Shi J, Yu R, Li S, Na R, Zhao Y, Zhou M, Guo Y, Cheng L, Wang G, Zheng T. Combination of Anti-PD-1 and Electroacupuncture Induces a Potent Antitumor Immune Response in Microsatellite-Stable Colorectal Cancer. Cancer Immunol Res 2024; 12:26-35. [PMID: 37956404 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-23-0309] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitors are ineffective against microsatellite-stable (MSS) colorectal cancer. Electroacupuncture (EA) has oncosuppressive and immunomodulatory properties. Here, we investigated the antitumor effects of EA and explored the feasibility of EA combined with anti-PD-1 in MSS colorectal cancer. Results showed that EA exerted its antitumor effect in an intensity-specific manner, and moderate-intensity EA (1.0 mA) induced maximal tumor inhibition. EA enhanced antitumor immune responses by increasing lymphocytes and granzyme B (GzmB) levels, as well as activating the stimulator of IFN genes (STING) pathway. EA combined with anti-PD-1 showed superior efficacy compared with either monotherapy in multiple MSS colorectal cancer mouse models. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that cotreatment reprogrammed the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), as characterized by enhancement of cytotoxic functions. Mechanically, we found that the potentiated effect of EA was dependent upon the STING pathway. Collectively, EA reshapes the TIME of MSS colorectal cancer and sensitizes tumors to anti-PD-1 in a STING pathway-dependent manner. These results provide a mechanistic rationale for using EA as an immunomodulatory strategy to improve the clinical efficacy of anti-PD-1 in MSS colorectal cancer. EA is safe, well-tolerated, and feasible for clinical translation as a promising strategy for treating MSS colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, P. R. China
- Department of Phase 1 Trials Center, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, P. R. China
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Fengyi Liu
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, P. R. China
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoxue Du
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, P. R. China
- Department of Phase 1 Trials Center, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, P. R. China
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Jiaqi Shi
- Department of Phase 1 Trials Center, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, P. R. China
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Rui Yu
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Shuang Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, P. R. China
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Ruisi Na
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, P. R. China
- Department of Phase 1 Trials Center, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, P. R. China
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Ying Zhao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, P. R. China
- Department of Phase 1 Trials Center, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, P. R. China
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Meng Zhou
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, P. R. China
- Department of Phase 1 Trials Center, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, P. R. China
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Ying Guo
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Liang Cheng
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, NHC Key Laboratory of Molecular Probe and Targeted Diagnosis and Therapy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Guangyu Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, P. R. China
- Department of Phase 1 Trials Center, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Tongsen Zheng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, P. R. China
- Department of Phase 1 Trials Center, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, P. R. China
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Harbin, P. R. China
- Heilongjiang Cancer Institute, Harbin, P. R. China
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