Bimetallic peroxide-based nanotherapeutics for immunometabolic intervention and induction of immunogenic cell death to augment cancer immunotherapy

Abstract

Immunotherapy has transformed cancer treatment, but its efficacy is often limited by the immunosuppressive characteristics of the tumor microenvironment (TME), which are predominantly influenced by the metabolism of cancer cells. Among these metabolic pathways, the indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) pathway is particularly crucial, as it significantly contributes to TME suppression and influences immune cell activity. Additionally, inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD) in tumor cells can reverse the immunosuppressive TME, thereby enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapy. Herein, we develop CGDMRR, a novel bimetallic peroxide-based nanodrug based on copper-cerium peroxide nanoparticles. These nanotherapeutics are engineered to mitigate tumor hypoxia and deliver therapeutics such as 1-methyltryptophan (1MT), glucose oxidase (GOx), and doxorubicin (Dox) in a targeted manner. The design aims to alleviate tumor hypoxia, reduce the immunosuppressive effects of the IDO pathway, and promote ICD. CGDMRR effectively inhibits the growth of 4T1 tumors and elicits antitumor immune responses by leveraging immunometabolic interventions and therapies that induce ICD. Furthermore, when CGDMRR is combined with a clinically certified anti-PD-L1 antibody, its efficacy in inhibiting tumor growth is enhanced. This improved efficacy extends beyond unilateral tumor models, also affecting bilateral tumors and lung metastases, due to the activation of systemic antitumor immunity. This study underscores CGDMRR's potential to augment the efficacy of PD-L1 blockade in breast cancer immunotherapy.

Keywords: Cancer immunotherapy; Immunogenic cell death; Immunometabolic intervention; Nanocarriers; Tumor microenvironment.