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A Multi-Omics Analysis of Metastatic Melanoma Identifies a Germinal Center-Like Tumor Microenvironment in HLA-DR-Positive Tumor Areas
- Source :
- Frontiers in Oncology, Vol 11 (2021)
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- Frontiers Media S.A., 2021.
-
Abstract
- The emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors has dramatically changed the therapeutic landscape for patients with advanced melanoma. However, relatively low response rates and a high incidence of severe immune-related adverse events have prompted the search for predictive biomarkers. A positive predictive value has been attributed to the aberrant expression of Human Leukocyte Antigen-DR (HLA-DR) by melanoma cells, but it remains unknown why this is the case. In this study, we have examined the microenvironment of HLA-DR positive metastatic melanoma samples using a multi-omics approach. First, using spatial, single-cell mapping by multiplexed immunohistochemistry, we found that the microenvironment of HLA-DR positive melanoma regions was enriched by professional antigen presenting cells, including classical dendritic cells and macrophages, while a more general cytotoxic T cell exhaustion phenotype was present in these regions. In parallel, transcriptomic analysis on micro dissected tissue from HLA-DR positive and HLA-DR negative areas showed increased IFNγ signaling, enhanced leukocyte adhesion and mononuclear cell proliferation in HLA-DR positive areas. Finally, multiplexed cytokine profiling identified an increased expression of germinal center cytokines CXCL12, CXCL13 and CCL19 in HLA-DR positive metastatic lesions, which, together with IFNγ and IL4 could serve as biomarkers to discriminate tumor samples containing HLA-DR overexpressing tumor cells from HLA-DR negative samples. Overall, this suggests that HLA-DR positive areas in melanoma attract the anti-tumor immune cell infiltration by creating a dystrophic germinal center-like microenvironment where an enhanced antigen presentation leads to an exhausted microenvironment, nevertheless representing a fertile ground for a better efficacy of anti-PD-1 inhibitors due to simultaneous higher levels of PD-1 in the immune cells and PD-L1 in the HLA-DR positive melanoma cells.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2234943X
- Volume :
- 11
- Database :
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- Journal :
- Frontiers in Oncology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsdoj.206ab1bbe50a4eb19b7018688ac2ddd1
- Document Type :
- article
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2021.636057