Background: The proliferation of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) hampers drug delivery and anti-tumor immunity, inducing tumor resistance to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. However, it has remained a challenge to develop therapeutics that specifically target or modulate CAFs.

Methods: We investigated the involvement of Meflin cancer-restraining CAFs (rCAFs) in ICB efficacy in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and urothelial carcinoma (UC). We examined the effects of Am80 (a synthetic retinoid) administration on CAF phenotype, the tumor immune microenvironment, and ICB efficacy in cancer mouse models.

Results: High infiltration of Meflin CAFs correlated with ICB efficacy in patients with ccRCC and UC. Meflin CAF induction by Am80 administration improved ICB efficacy in the mouse models of cancer. Am80 exerted this effect when administered prior to, but not concomitant with, ICB therapy in wild-type but not Meflin-deficient mice. Am80-mediated induction of Meflin CAFs was associated with increases in antibody delivery and M1-like tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) infiltration. Finally, we showed the role of Chemerin produced from CAFs after Am80 administration in the induction of M1-like TAMs.

Conclusion: Our data suggested that Am80 administration prior to ICB therapy increases the number of Meflin rCAFs and ICB efficacy by inducing changes in TAM phenotype.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11263587PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41416-024-02734-3DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

icb efficacy
20
icb therapy
12
am80 administration
12
cancer-associated fibroblasts
8
immune checkpoint
8
checkpoint blockade
8
icb
8
rcafs icb
8
efficacy patients
8
meflin cafs
8

Similar Publications

Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma (UCEC) represents a common malignant neoplasm in women, with its prognosis being intricately associated with available therapeutic interventions. In the past few decades, there has been a burgeoning interest in the role of mitochondria within the context of UCEC. Nevertheless, the development and application of prognostic models predicated on mitochondrial-related genes (MRGs) in UCEC remains in the exploratory stages.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

SET domain bifurcated histone lysine methyltransferase 1 (SETDB1/ESET), a pivotal H3K9 methyltransferase, has been extensively studied since its discovery over two decades ago. SETDB1 plays critical roles in immune regulation, including B cell maturation, T-cell activity modulation, and endogenous retrovirus (ERV) silencing. While essential for normal immune cell function, SETDB1 overexpression in cancer cells disrupts immune responses by suppressing tumor immunogenicity and facilitating immune evasion.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: T-lymphopenia (TLP) is a frequently observed condition in cancer patients, often exacerbated by conventional chemo/radiotherapy, which impairs the efficacy of subsequent immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. This study aimed to understand the impact of TLP on ICB responsiveness and explore potential therapeutic strategies to enhance antitumor immunity.

Methods: To investigate ICB responsiveness depending on the severity of TLP, first, we established TLP mouse models that mimic clinically observed mild and severe TLP through thymectomy and anti-Thy1-induced peripheral T cell depletion.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

CREB3L1 facilitates pancreatic tumor progression and reprograms intratumoral tumor-associated macrophages to shape an immunotherapy-resistance microenvironment.

J Immunother Cancer

January 2025

State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer of Oncology Department and Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China

Background: To date, a growing body of evidence suggests that unfolded protein response (UPR) sensors play a vital role in carcinogenesis. However, it remains unclear whether they are involved in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and how they relate to clinical outcomes. This study aims to investigate the biological function and mechanism of how a novel UPR sensor, CREB3L1 works in PDAC and further evaluate its clinical application prospect.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Depletion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells sensitizes murine multiple myeloma to PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors.

J Immunother Cancer

January 2025

Center for Translational Research in Hematologic Malignancies, Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA

Background: Cancer immunotherapy using immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has revolutionized cancer treatment. However, patients with multiple myeloma (MM) rarely respond to ICB. Accumulating evidence indicates that the complicated tumor microenvironment (TME) significantly impacts the efficacy of ICB therapy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!