Increased diversity with reduced "diversity evenness" of tumor infiltrating T-cells for the successful cancer immunotherapy

Sci Rep. 2018 Jan 18;8(1):1058. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-19548-y.

Abstract

To facilitate the optimization of cancer immunotherapy lacking immune-related adverse events, we performed TCR repertoire analysis of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T-cells in B16 melanoma-bearing mice receiving anti-PD-1, anti-CTLA-4, anti-4-1BB, anti-CD4 or a combination of anti-PD-1 and 4-1BB antibodies. Although CD8+ T-cells in the tumor were activated and expanded to a greater or lesser extent by these therapies, tumor growth suppression was achieved only by anti-PD-1, anti-PD-1/4-1BB combined, or by anti-CD4 treatment, but not by anti-CTLA-4 or anti-4-1BB monotherapy. Increased CD8+ T cell effector function and TCR diversity with enrichment of certain TCR clonotypes in the tumor was associated with anti-tumor effects. In contrast, polyclonal activation of T-cells in the periphery was associated with tissue damage. Thus, optimal combination therapy increases TCR diversity with extended activation of selective CD8+ T-cells specifically in the tumor but not in the periphery. Incorporation of the concept of evenness for the TCR diversity is proposed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / pharmacology
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunomodulation
  • Immunotherapy / adverse effects
  • Immunotherapy / methods
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology*
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / metabolism*
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / pathology
  • Melanoma, Experimental
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism
  • T-Cell Antigen Receptor Specificity
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / pathology
  • Tumor Burden / drug effects

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell