Immunological factors relating to the antitumor effect of temozolomide chemoimmunotherapy in a murine glioma model

Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2010 Jan;17(1):143-53. doi: 10.1128/CVI.00292-09. Epub 2009 Nov 4.

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the potential of combined treatment with temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy and tumor antigen-pulsed dendritic cells (DCs) and the underlying immunological factors of TMZ chemoimmunotherapy with an intracranial GL26 glioma animal model. The combined treatment enhanced the tumor-specific immune responses and prolonged the survival more effectively than either single therapy in GL26 tumor-bearing animals. Apoptosis was induced in the tumors of the animals by the treatment with TMZ. Calreticulin (CRT) surface exposure was detected by immunofluorescence staining of TMZ-treated GL26 cells. TMZ chemotherapy increased tumor antigen cross-priming from tumor cells, leading to cross-priming of tumor antigen-specific CD4(+) T cells and CD8(+) T cells. This chemotherapy appeared to suppress the frequency of CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Treg). Moreover, this combined therapy resulted in an increase in the tumor infiltration of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. Collectively, the findings of this study provide evidence that the combination of TMZ chemotherapy and treatment with DC-based vaccines leads to the enhancement of antitumor immunity through increased tumor-specific immune responses via the cross-priming of apoptotic tumor cell death mediated by CRT exposure and, in part, the suppression of Treg. Therefore, CRT exposure, regulatory T cells, and cross-priming by TMZ chemotherapy may be immunological factors related to the enhancement of the antitumor effects of chemoimmunotherapy in an experimental brain tumor model.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Brain Neoplasms / immunology
  • Brain Neoplasms / therapy*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Dacarbazine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Dacarbazine / therapeutic use
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Therapy, Combination / methods
  • Female
  • Glioma / immunology
  • Glioma / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Survival Analysis
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • Temozolomide

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Dacarbazine
  • Temozolomide