Tumor Microenvironment Remodeling by 4-Methylumbelliferone Boosts the Antitumor Effect of Combined Immunotherapy in Murine Colorectal Carcinoma

Mol Ther. 2015 Sep;23(9):1444-55. doi: 10.1038/mt.2015.112. Epub 2015 Jun 24.

Abstract

We have previously demonstrated that a low dose of cyclophosphamide (Cy) combined with gene therapy of interleukin-12 (AdIL-12) has a synergistic, although limited, antitumoral effect in mice with colorectal carcinoma. The main mechanism involved in the efficacy of Cy+AdIL-12 was the induction of a specific immune response mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Our current aims were to evaluate the effects of 4-methylumbelliferone (4Mu), a selective inhibitor of hyaluronan (HA) synthesis, on tumor microenvironment (TME) and to investigate how 4Mu affects the therapeutic efficacy of Cy+AdIL-12. The results showed that 4Mu significantly reduced the amount of tumoral HA leading to a significant decrease in tumor interstitial pressure (TIP). As a consequence, tumor perfusion was improved allowing an increased adenoviral transgene expression. In addition, treatment with 4Mu boosted the number of cytotoxic T lymphocytes that reach the tumor after adoptive transfer resulting in a potent inhibition of tumor growth. Importantly, we observed complete tumor regression in 75% of mice when 4Mu was administrated in combination with Cy+AdIL-12. The triple combination 4Mu+Cy+AdIL-12 also induced a shift toward antiangiogenic factors production in tumor milieu. Our results showed that TME remodeling is an interesting strategy to increase the efficacy of anticancer immunotherapies based on gene and/or cell therapy.

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics
  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / therapy
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Cyclophosphamide / pharmacology
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Genetic Therapy / methods
  • Genetic Vectors / administration & dosage
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Hymecromone / pharmacology*
  • Immunotherapy* / methods
  • Interleukin-12 / genetics
  • Interleukin-12 / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics
  • Liver Neoplasms / immunology
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Liver Neoplasms / therapy
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / immunology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / therapy
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • Transduction, Genetic
  • Transgenes
  • Tumor Burden / genetics
  • Tumor Burden / immunology
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects*
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
  • Interleukin-12
  • Hymecromone
  • Cyclophosphamide