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Combined natural killer T-cell based immunotherapy eradicates established tumors in mice.

Combined natural killer T-cell based immunotherapy eradicates established tumors in mice.

Authors :
Teng MW
Westwood JA
Darcy PK
Sharkey J
Tsuji M
Franck RW
Porcelli SA
Besra GS
Takeda K
Yagita H
Kershaw MH
Smyth MJ
Source :
Cancer research [Cancer Res] 2007 Aug 01; Vol. 67 (15), pp. 7495-504.
Publication Year :
2007

Abstract

A rational monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based antitumor therapy approach has previously been shown to eradicate various established experimental and carcinogen-induced tumors in a majority of mice. This therapy comprised an agonistic mAb reactive with tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor (DR5), expressed by tumor cells, an agonistic anti-CD40 mAb to mature dendritic cells, and an agonistic anti-4-1BB mAb to costimulate CD8(+) T cells. Because agonists of CD40 have been toxic in patients, we were interested in substituting anti-CD40 mAb with other dendritic cell-maturing agents, such as glycolipid ligands recognized by invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells. Here, we show that CD1d-restricted glycolipid ligands for iNKT cells effectively substitute for anti-CD40 mAb and reject established experimental mouse breast and renal tumors when used in combination with anti-DR5 and anti-4-1BB mAbs (termed "NKTMab" therapy). NKTMab therapy-induced tumor rejection was dependent on CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, NKT cells, and the cytokine IFN-gamma. NKTMab therapy containing either alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GC) or alpha-C-galactosylceramide (alpha-c-GC) at high concentrations induced similar rates of tumor rejection in mice; however, toxicity was observed at the highest doses of alpha-GC (>250 ng/injection), limiting the use of this glycolipid. By contrast, even very low doses of alpha-c-GC (25 ng/injection) retained considerable antitumor activity when used in combination with anti-DR5/anti-4-1BB, and thus, alpha-c-GC showed a considerably greater therapeutic index. In summary, sequential tumor cell apoptosis and amplification of dendritic cell function by NKT cell agonists represents an exciting and novel approach for cancer treatment.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0008-5472
Volume :
67
Issue :
15
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Cancer research
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
17671220
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-0941