Nanoparticle Encapsulation of Synergistic Immune Agonists Enables Systemic Codelivery to Tumor Sites and IFNβ-Driven Antitumor Immunity

Cancer Res. 2019 Oct 15;79(20):5394-5406. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-19-0381. Epub 2019 Aug 20.

Abstract

Effective cancer immunotherapy depends on the robust activation of tumor-specific antigen-presenting cells (APC). Immune agonists encapsulated within nanoparticles (NP) can be delivered to tumor sites to generate powerful antitumor immune responses with minimal off-target dissemination. Systemic delivery enables widespread access to the microvasculature and draining to the APC-rich perivasculature. We developed an immuno-nanoparticle (immuno-NP) coloaded with cyclic diguanylate monophosphate, an agonist of the stimulator of interferon genes pathway, and monophosphoryl lipid A, and a Toll-like receptor 4 agonist, which synergize to produce high levels of type I IFNβ. Using a murine model of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, systemic delivery of these immuno-NPs resulted in significant therapeutic outcomes due to extensive upregulation of APCs and natural killer cells in the blood and tumor compared with control treatments. These results indicate that NPs can facilitate systemic delivery of multiple immune-potentiating cargoes for effective APC-driven local and systemic antitumor immunity. SIGNIFICANCE: Systemic administration of an immuno-nanoparticle in a murine breast tumor model drives a robust tumor site-specific APC response by delivering two synergistic immune-potentiating molecules, highlighting the potential of nanoparticles for immunotherapy.

Publication types

  • Consensus Development Conference

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / drug effects
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / immunology*
  • Cyclic GMP / administration & dosage
  • Cyclic GMP / analogs & derivatives*
  • Cyclic GMP / therapeutic use
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods*
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Drug Synergism
  • Female
  • Interferon-beta / physiology*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Lipid A / administration & dosage
  • Lipid A / analogs & derivatives*
  • Lipid A / therapeutic use
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / immunology
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • Melanoma, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Melanoma, Experimental / immunology
  • Melanoma, Experimental / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microcirculation
  • Nanocapsules / administration & dosage*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / agonists*
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / immunology
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Lipid A
  • Nanocapsules
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • bis(3',5')-cyclic diguanylic acid
  • Interferon-beta
  • Cyclic GMP
  • monophosphoryl lipid A