RNAi-Mediated PD-L1 Inhibition for Pancreatic Cancer Immunotherapy

Sci Rep. 2019 Mar 18;9(1):4712. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-41251-9.

Abstract

The recent past has seen impressive progress in the treatment of various malignancies using immunotherapy. One of the most promising approaches involves immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, the clinical results with these agents have demonstrated variability in the response. Pancreatic cancer, in particular, has proven resistant to initial immunotherapy approaches. Here, we describe an alternative strategy that relies on combining gemcitabine and a novel programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor, termed MN-siPDL1. MN-siPDL1 incorporates small interfering RNA against PD-L1 (siPDL1) conjugated to a magnetic nanocarrier (MN). We show that noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could be used to monitor therapeutic response. Combination therapy consisting of gemcitabine and MN-siPDL1 in a syngeneic murine pancreatic cancer model resulted in a significant reduction in tumor growth and an increase in survival. Following optimization, a 90% reduction in tumor volume was achieved 2 weeks after the beginning of treatment. Whereas 100% of the control animals had succumbed to their tumors by week 6 after the beginning of treatment, there was no mortality in the experimental group by week 5, and 67% of the experimental animals survived for 12 weeks. This method could provide therapeutic benefit against an intractable disease for which there are no effective treatments and which is characterized by a mere 1% 5-year survival.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / pharmacology
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / therapeutic use*
  • B7-H1 Antigen / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • B7-H1 Antigen / genetics
  • B7-H1 Antigen / immunology
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor / transplantation
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives
  • Deoxycytidine / pharmacology
  • Deoxycytidine / therapeutic use
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Drug Monitoring / methods
  • Female
  • Gemcitabine
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Maximum Tolerated Dose
  • Mice
  • Pancreas / diagnostic imaging
  • Pancreas / drug effects
  • Pancreas / immunology
  • Pancreas / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / immunology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / administration & dosage*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects
  • Tumor Microenvironment / genetics
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • Cd274 protein, mouse
  • Drug Carriers
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Deoxycytidine
  • Gemcitabine