Adenovirus-mediated intratumoral expression of immunostimulatory proteins in combination with systemic Treg inactivation induces tumor-destructive immune responses in mouse models

Cancer Gene Ther. 2011 Jun;18(6):407-18. doi: 10.1038/cgt.2011.8. Epub 2011 Mar 11.

Abstract

Tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) include overexpressed self-antigens (for example, Her2/neu) and tumor virus antigens (for example, HPV-16 E6/E7). Although in cancer patients, TAA-specific CD4+ and CD8+ cells are often present, they are not able to control tumor growth. In recent studies, it became apparent that tumor site-located immune evasion mechanisms contribute to this phenomenon and that regulatory T cells have a major role. We tested in Her2/neu+ breast cancer and HPV-16 E6/E7+ cervical cancer mouse models, whether intratumoral expression of immunostimulatory proteins (ISPs), for example, recombinant antibodies (αCTLA-4, αCD137, αCD3), cyto/chemokines (IL-15, LIGHT, mda-7) and costimulatory ligands (CD80), through adenovirus(Ad)-mediated gene transfer would overcome resistance. In both the breast and cervical cancer model, none of the Ad.ISP vectors displayed a significant therapeutic effect when compared with an Ad vector that lacked a transgene (Ad.zero). However, the combination of Ad.ISP vectors with systemic T regulatory (Treg) depletion, using anti-CD25 mAb (breast cancer model) or low-dose cyclophosphamide (cervical cancer model) resulted in a significant delay of tumor growth in mice treated with Ad.αCTLA4. In the cervical cancer model, we also demonstrated the induction of a systemic antitumor immune response that was able to delay the growth of distant tumors. Ad.αCTLA4-mediated tumor-destructive immune responses involved NKT and CD8+ T cells. In both models no autoimmune reactions were observed. This study shows that Ad.αCTLA4 in combination with systemic Treg depletion has potentials in the immunotherapy of cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics*
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / genetics
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / immunology
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • Cancer Vaccines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods
  • Lymphocyte Depletion*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / immunology
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / therapy*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antigens, CD
  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • CTLA4 protein, human
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Ctla4 protein, mouse