Breast cancer stem cell-derived tumors escape from γδ T cell immunosurveillance in vivo by modulating γδ T cell ligands
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks targeted therapy options. TNBC is enriched in breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), which play a key role in metastasis, chemoresistance, relapse and mortality. γδ T cells hold great potential in immunotherapy against cancer, and might be an alternative to target TNBC. γδ T cells are commonly observed to infiltrate solid tumors and have an extensive repertoire of tumor sensing, recognizing stress-induced molecules and phosphoantigens (pAgs) on transformed cells. We show that patient derived triple negative BCSCs are efficiently recognized and killed by ex vivo expanded γδ T cells from healthy donors. Orthotopically xenografted BCSCs, however, were refractory to γδ T cell immunotherapy. Mechanistically, we unraveled concerted differentiation and immune escape: xenografted BCSCs lost stemness, expression of γδ T cell ligands, adhesion molecules and pAgs, thereby evading immune recognition by γδ T cells. Indeed, neither pro-migratory engineered γδ T cells, nor anti-PD 1 checkpoint blockade significantly prolonged overall survival of tumor-bearing mice. BCSC immune escape was independent of the immune pressure exerted by the γδ T cells, and could be pharmacologically reverted by Zoledronate or IFN-α treatment. These results pave the way for novel combinatorial immunotherapies for TNBC.
INSTRUMENT(S): Orbitrap Fusion Lumos
ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens (human)
TISSUE(S): Stem Cell, Breast Cancer Stem Cell
DISEASE(S): Breast Cancer
SUBMITTER: Renata Soares
LAB HEAD: Mahima Swamy
PROVIDER: PXD039463 | Pride | 2023-07-20
REPOSITORIES: Pride
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