Multifunctional oncolytic nanoparticles deliver self-replicating IL-12 RNA to eliminate established tumors and prime systemic immunity

Nat Cancer. 2020 Sep;1(9):882-893. doi: 10.1038/s43018-020-0095-6. Epub 2020 Aug 10.

Abstract

Therapies that synergistically stimulate immunogenic cancer cell death (ICD), inflammation, and immune priming are of great interest for cancer immunotherapy. However, even multi-agent therapies often fail to trigger all of the steps necessary for self-sustaining anti-tumor immunity. Here we describe self-replicating RNAs encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNP-replicons), which combine three key elements: (1) an LNP composition that potently promotes ICD, (2) RNA that stimulates danger sensors in transfected cells, and (3) RNA-encoded IL-12 for modulation of immune cells. Intratumoral administration of LNP-replicons led to high-level expression of IL-12, stimulation of a type I interferon response, and cancer cell ICD, resulting in a highly inflamed tumor microenvironment and priming of systemic anti-tumor immunity. In several mouse models of cancer, a single intratumoral injection of replicon-LNPs eradicated large established tumors, induced protective immune memory, and enabled regression of distal uninjected tumors. LNP-replicons are thus a promising multifunctional single-agent immunotherapeutic.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Immunotherapy / methods
  • Interleukin-12 / genetics
  • Liposomes
  • Mice
  • Nanoparticles*
  • Neoplasms* / genetics
  • RNA
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • Lipid Nanoparticles
  • Liposomes
  • Interleukin-12
  • RNA

Associated data

  • figshare/10.6084/m9.figshare.12502007
  • figshare/10.6084/m9.figshare.12502124
  • figshare/10.6084/m9.figshare.12498047