Local Administration of GITR Agonistic Antibody Induces a Stronger Antitumor Immunity than Systemic Delivery

Sci Rep. 2019 Apr 3;9(1):5562. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-41724-x.

Abstract

An anti-glucocorticoid induced TNF receptor (GITR) agonistic antibody (Ab) induces an antitumor immunity with both stimulation of effector T cells and inhibition of regulatory T cell activity. To enhance GITR Ab-mediated tumor immunity, we focused on the intratumoral route, since a tumor-localized high concentration of Ab would confer activation of only tumor-infiltrating T cells. First, in a murine colon cancer model, we showed that the intratumoral delivery of Ab significantly increased the number of effector T cells infiltrated into tumors, and suppressed tumor growth more effectively than the intraperitoneal and intravenous injections did. Then, we found that the injection of Ab into the peritumoral area induced a systemic antitumor immunity at a similar level to the intratumoral injection. Therefore, we hypothesized that the transfer of locally administrated Ab into tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) plays an important role in inducing an effective immunity. In fact, intratumorally or peritumorally injected Ab was detected in TDLNs, and resection of Ab-injected TDLNs significantly reduced GITR Ab-mediated systemic tumor immunity. Intratumoral injection showed less number of auto-reactive T cells in the spleen than the intraperitoneal injection did. Intratumoral delivery of GITR Ab is a promising approach to induce an effective immunity compared to the systemic delivery.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacokinetics
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / pharmacology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoid-Induced TNFR-Related Protein / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Glucocorticoid-Induced TNFR-Related Protein / immunology
  • Injections, Intralesional
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Lymph Nodes / drug effects
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • Glucocorticoid-Induced TNFR-Related Protein
  • Tnfrsf18 protein, mouse
  • Interferon-gamma