Harnessing tumor immunity with cytotoxics: T cells monitoring in mice bearing lung tumors treated with anti-VEGF and pemetrexed-cisplatin doublet.
Br J Cancer 2023;
129:1373-1382. [PMID:
37524968 PMCID:
PMC10628115 DOI:
10.1038/s41416-023-02350-7]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Successful immunotherapy is restricted to some cancers only, and combinatorial strategies with other drugs could help to improve their efficacy. Here, we monitor T cells in NSCLC model after treatment with cytotoxics (CT) and anti-VEGF drugs, to understand when immune checkpoint inhibitors should be best associated next.
METHODS
In vivo study was performed on BALB/c mice grafted with KLN205 cells. Eight treatments were tested including control, cisplatin and pemetrexed as low (LD CT) and full (MTD CT) dose as single agents, flat dose anti-VEGF and the association anti-VEGF + CT. Full immunomonitoring was performed by flow cytometry on tumor, spleen and blood over 3 weeks.
RESULTS
Immunomodulatory effect was dependent upon both treatments and time. In tumors, combination groups shown numerical lower Treg cells on Day 21. In spleen, anti-VEGF and LD CT group shown higher CD8/Treg ratio on Day 7; on Day 14, higher T CD4 were observed in both combination groups. Finally, in blood, Tregs were lower and CD8/Treg ratio higher, on Day 14 in both combination groups. On Day 21, CD4 and CD8 T cells were higher in the anti-VEGF + MTD CT group.
CONCLUSIONS
Anti-VEGF associated to CT triggers notable increase in CD8/Tregs ratio. Regarding the scheduling, a two-week delay after using anti-VEGF and CT could be the best sequence to optimize antitumor efficacy.
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