An engineered oncolytic virus expressing PD-L1 inhibitors activates tumor neoantigen-specific T cell responses

Nat Commun. 2020 Mar 13;11(1):1395. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-15229-5.

Abstract

Oncolytic viruses offer an in situ vaccination approach to activate tumor-specific T cell responses. However, the upregulation of PD-L1 expression on tumor cells and immune cells leads to tumor resistance to oncolytic immunotherapy. In this study, we generate an engineered oncolytic virus that coexpresses a PD-L1 inhibitor and GM-CSF. We find that the oncolytic virus is able to secrete the PD-L1 inhibitor that systemically binds and inhibits PD-L1 on tumor cells and immune cells. Importantly, the intratumoral injection with the oncolytic virus overcomes PD-L1-mediated immunosuppression during both the priming and effector phases, provokes systemic T cell responses against dominant and subdominant neoantigen epitopes derived from mutations, and leads to an effective rejection of both virus-injected and distant tumors. In summary, this engineered oncolytic virus is able to activate tumor neoantigen-specific T cell responses, providing a potent, individual tumor-specific oncolytic immunotherapy for cancer patients, especially those resistant to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • B7-H1 Antigen / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • B7-H1 Antigen / genetics
  • B7-H1 Antigen / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Genetic Engineering
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / immunology
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppression Therapy
  • Immunotherapy
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Oncolytic Virotherapy*
  • Oncolytic Viruses / genetics*
  • Oncolytic Viruses / immunology
  • Oncolytic Viruses / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • CD274 protein, human
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • sargramostim
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor