Cetuximab-activated natural killer and dendritic cells collaborate to trigger tumor antigen-specific T-cell immunity in head and neck cancer patients.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Tumor antigen-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb) block oncogenic signaling and induce Fc? receptor (Fc?R)-mediated cytotoxicity. However, the role of CD8(+) CTL and Fc?R in initiating innate and adaptive immune responses in mAb-treated human patients with cancer is still emerging.Fc?RIIIa codon 158 polymorphism was correlated with survival in 107 cetuximab-treated patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). Flow cytometry was carried out to quantify EGF receptor (EGFR)-specific T cells in cetuximab-treated patients with HNC. The effect of cetuximab on natural killer (NK) cell, dendritic cell (DC), and T-cell activation was measured using IFN-? release assays and flow cytometry.Fc?RIIIa polymorphism did not predict clinical outcome in cetuximab-treated patients with HNC; however, elevated circulating EGFR(853-861)-specific CD8(+) T cells were found in cetuximab-treated patients with HNC (P < 0.005). Cetuximab promoted EGFR-specific cellular immunity through the interaction of EGFR(+) tumor cells and Fc?RIIIa on NK cells but not on the polymorphism per se. Cetuximab-activated NK cells induced IFN-?-dependent expression of DC maturation markers, antigen processing machinery components such as TAP-1/2 and T-helper cell (T(H)1) chemokines through NKG2D/MICA binding. Cetuximab initiated adaptive immune responses via NK cell-induced DC maturation, which enhanced cross-presentation to CTL specific for EGFR as well as another tumor antigen, MAGE-3.Cetuximab-activated NK cells promote DC maturation and CD8(+) T-cell priming, leading to tumor antigen spreading and TH1 cytokine release through "NK-DC cross-talk." Fc?RIIIa polymorphism did not predict clinical response to cetuximab but was necessary for NK-DC interaction and mAb-induced cross-presentation. EGFR-specific T cells in cetuximab-treated patients with HNC may contribute to clinical response.
SUBMITTER: Srivastava RM
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3640274 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
ACCESS DATA