Neutralization of IL-8 decreases tumor PMN-MDSCs and reduces mesenchymalization of claudin-low triple-negative breast cancer

JCI Insight. 2017 Nov 2;2(21):e94296. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.94296.

Abstract

The complex signaling networks of the tumor microenvironment that facilitate tumor growth and progression toward metastatic disease are becoming a focus of potential therapeutic options. The chemokine IL-8 is overexpressed in multiple cancer types, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), where it promotes the acquisition of mesenchymal features, stemness, resistance to therapies, and the recruitment of immune-suppressive cells to the tumor site. The present study explores the utility of a clinical-stage monoclonal antibody that neutralizes IL-8 (HuMax-IL8) as a potential therapeutic option for TNBC. HuMax-IL8 was shown to revert mesenchymalization in claudin-low TNBC models both in vitro and in vivo as well as to significantly decrease the recruitment of polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs) at the tumor site, an effect substantiated when used in combination with docetaxel. In addition, HuMax-IL8 enhanced the susceptibility of claudin-low breast cancer cells to immune-mediated lysis with NK and antigen-specific T cells in vitro. These results demonstrate the multifaceted way in which neutralizing this single chemokine reverts mesenchymalization, decreases recruitment of MDSCs at the tumor site, assists in immune-mediated killing, and forms the rationale for using HuMax-IL8 in combination with chemotherapy or immune-based therapies for the treatment of TNBC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / therapeutic use
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival
  • Chemokines
  • Claudins / metabolism*
  • Docetaxel / pharmacology
  • Drug Therapy
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Heterografts
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-8 / genetics
  • Interleukin-8 / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells / immunology
  • Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells / metabolism*
  • Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells / pathology
  • Signal Transduction
  • T-Lymphocytes
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / immunology
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Chemokines
  • Claudins
  • Interleukin-8
  • Docetaxel