Dataset Information

CDK Inhibition Primes for Anti-PD-L1 Treatment in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Models

ABSTRACT:

Simple Summary

The cyclin E/CDK2 complex may present a promising target axis for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC); however, therapeutically relevant doses of CDK2 inhibitors have been associated with toxicities. Here, we report that the suboptimal dosing of the CDK 2, 7 and 9 inhibitor SNS-032 reduced the viability of TNBC cells and upregulated the checkpoint ligand PD-L1 expression in surviving cancer cells in vitro and in human orthotopic MDA-MB-231 TNBC xenografts grown in immunodeficient mice. Moreover, in immunodeficient, TNBC xenograft-bearing mice engrafted with human immune cells, SNS-032 treatment was associated with the infiltration of CD45+ human immune cells in tumors. In these orthotopic MDA-MB-231 TNBC-bearing mice, suboptimal SNS-032 doses given sequentially ahead of dosing with the anti-PD-L1 antibody avelumab significantly restricted tumor growth compared with monotherapy. These findings suggest that surviving cancer cells following suboptimal CDK inhibitor treatment may be responsive to checkpoint immunotherapy.

Abstract

Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) expressing PD-L1 qualify for checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy. Cyclin E/CDK2 is a potential target axis in TNBC; however, small-molecule drugs at efficacious doses may be associated with toxicity, and treatment alongside immunotherapy requires investigation. We evaluated CDK inhibition at suboptimal levels and its anti-tumor and immunomodulatory effects. Transcriptomic analyses of primary breast cancers confirmed higher cyclin E/CDK2 expression in TNBC compared with non-TNBC. Out of the three CDK2-targeting inhibitors tested, the CDK 2, 7 and 9 inhibitor SNS-032 was the most potent in reducing TNBC cell viability and exerted cytotoxicity against all eight TNBC cell lines evaluated in vitro. Suboptimal SNS-032 dosing elevated cell surface PD-L1 expression in surviving TNBC cells. In mice engrafted with human immune cells and challenged with human MDA-MB-231 TNBC xenografts in mammary fat pads, suboptimal SNS-032 dosing partially restricted tumor growth, enhanced the tumor infiltration of human CD45+ immune cells and elevated cell surface PD-L1 expression in surviving cancer cells. In tumor-bearing mice engrafted with human immune cells, the anti-PD-L1 antibody avelumab, given sequentially following suboptimal SNS-032 dosing, reduced tumor growth compared with SNS-032 alone or with avelumab without prior SNS-032 priming. CDK inhibition at suboptimal doses promotes immune cell recruitment to tumors, PD-L1 expression by surviving TNBC cells and may complement immunotherapy.

SUBMITTER: Cheung A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9322647 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:Blockade of programmed cell death 1 ligand (PD-L1) has been used to treat triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), and various strategies are under investigation to improve the treatment response rate. Inhibition of glutamine metabolism can reduce the massive consumption of glutamine by tumor cells and meet the demand for glutamine by lymphocytes in tumors, thereby improving the anti-tumor effect on the PD-L1 blockade therapy. Here, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) was employed to simultaneously deliver anti-PDL1 antibody (aPDL1) and V9302 to boost the anti-tumor immune response in TNBC cells. The characterization results show that MoS2 has a dispersed lamellar structure with a size of about 181 nm and a size of 232 nm after poly (L-lysine) (PLL) modification, with high stability and biocompatibility. The loading capacity of aPDL1 and V9302 are 3.84% and 24.76%, respectively. V9302 loaded MoS2 (MoS2-V9302) can effectively kill 4T1 cells and significantly reduce glutamine uptake of tumor cells. It slightly increases CD8+ cells in the tumor and promotes CD8+ cells from the tumor edge into the tumor core. In vivo studies demonstrate that the combination of aPDL1 and V9302 (MoS2-aPDL1-V9302) can strongly inhibit the growth of TNBC 4T1 tumors. Interestingly, after the treatment of MoS2-aPDL1-V9302, glutamine levels in tumor interstitial fluid increased. Subsequently, subtypes of cytotoxic T cells (CD8+) in the tumors were analyzed according to two markers of T cell activation, CD69, and CD25, and the results reveal a marked increase in the proportion of activated T cells. The levels of cytokines in the corresponding tumor interstitial fluid are also significantly increased. Additionally, during the treatment, the body weights of the mice remain stable, the main indicators of liver and kidney function in the blood do not increase significantly, and there are no obvious lesions in the main organs, indicating low systemic toxicity. In conclusion, our study provides new insights into glutamine metabolism in the tumor microenvironment affects immune checkpoint blockade therapy in TNBC, and highlights the potential clinical implications of combining glutamine metabolism inhibition with immune checkpoint blockade in the treatment of TNBC.

Project description:(1) Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a distinct subgroup of breast cancer presenting a high level of recurrence, and neo-adjuvant chemotherapy is beneficial in its therapy management. Anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy improves the effect of neo-adjuvant therapy in TNBC. (2) Methods: Immune-modulation and ferroptosis-related R-packages were developed for integrative omics analyses under ferroptosis-inducer treatments: TNBC cells stimulated with ferroptosis inducers (GSE173905, GSE154425), single cell data (GSE191246) and mass spectrometry on breast cancer stem cells. Clinical association analyses were carried out with breast tumors (TCGA and METABRIC cohorts). Protein-level validation was investigated through protein atlas proteome experiments. (3) Results: Erastin/RSL3 ferroptosis inducers upregulate CD274 in TNBC cells (MDA-MB-231 and HCC38). In breast cancer, CD274 expression is associated with overall survival. Breast tumors presenting high expression of CD274 upregulated some ferroptosis drivers associated with prognosis: IDO1, IFNG and TNFAIP3. At the protein level, the induction of Cd274 and Tnfaip3 was confirmed in breast cancer stem cells under salinomycin treatment. In a 4T1 tumor treated with cyclophosphamide, the single cell expression of Cd274 was found to increase both in myeloid- and lymphoid-infiltrated cells, independently of its receptor Pdcd1. The CD274 ferroptosis-driver score computed on a breast tumor transcriptome stratified patients on their prognosis: low score was observed in the basal subgroup, with a higher level of recurrent risk scores (oncotypeDx, ggi and gene70 scores). In the METABRIC cohort, CD274, IDO1, IFNG and TNFAIP3 were found to be overexpressed in the TNBC subgroup. The CD274 ferroptosis-driver score was found to be associated with overall survival, independently of TNM classification and age diagnosis. The tumor expression of CD274, TNFAIP3, IFNG and IDO1, in a biopsy of breast ductal carcinoma, was confirmed at the protein level (4) Conclusions: Ferroptosis inducers upregulate PD-L1 in TNBC cells, known to be an effective target of immunotherapy in high-risk early TNBC patients who received neo-adjuvant therapy. Basal and TNBC tumors highly expressed CD274 and ferroptosis drivers: IFNG, TNFAIP3 and IDO1. The CD274 ferroptosis-driver score is associated with prognosis and to the risk of recurrence in breast cancer. A potential synergy of ferroptosis inducers with anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy is suggested for recurrent TNBC.

Dataset Information

CDK Inhibition Primes for Anti-PD-L1 Treatment in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Models

Simple Summary

Abstract

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets