Inhibition of the CCL2 receptor, CCR2, enhances tumor response to immune checkpoint therapy

Commun Biol. 2020 Nov 27;3(1):720. doi: 10.1038/s42003-020-01441-y.

Abstract

Immunotherapies targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis are now a mainstay in the clinical management of multiple cancer types, however, many tumors still fail to respond. CCL2 is highly expressed in various cancer types and has been shown to be associated with poor prognosis. Inhibition or blockade of the CCL2/CCR2 signaling axis has thus been an area of interest for cancer therapy. Here we show across multiple murine tumor and metastasis models that CCR2 antagonism in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy leads to sensitization and enhanced tumor response over anti-PD-1 monotherapy. We show that enhanced treatment response correlates with enhanced CD8+ T cell recruitment and activation and a concomitant decrease in CD4+ regulatory T cell. These results provide strong preclinical rationale for further clinical exploration of combining CCR2 antagonism with PD-1/PD-L1-directed immunotherapies across multiple tumor types especially given the availability of small molecule CCR2 inhibitors and antibodies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Melanoma, Experimental / therapy
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • RNA-Seq
  • Receptors, CCR2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / therapy

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • Receptors, CCR2