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Banerjee P, Zhang R, Ivan C, Galletti G, Clise-Dwyer K, Barbaglio F, Scarfò L, Aracil M, Klein C, Wierda W, Plunkett W, Caligaris-Cappio F, Gandhi V, Keating MJ, Bertilaccio MTS. Trabectedin Reveals a Strategy of Immunomodulation in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Cancer Immunol Res 2019; 7:2036-2051. [PMID: 31530560 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-19-0152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a B-cell neoplasia characterized by protumor immune dysregulation involving nonmalignant cells of the microenvironment, including T lymphocytes and tumor-associated myeloid cells. Although therapeutic agents have improved treatment options for CLL, many patients still fail to respond. Some patients also show immunosuppression. We have investigated trabectedin, a marine-derived compound with cytotoxic activity on macrophages in solid tumors. Here, we demonstrate that trabectedin induces apoptosis of human primary leukemic cells and also selected myeloid and lymphoid immunosuppressive cells, mainly through the TRAIL/TNF pathway. Trabectedin modulates transcription and translation of IL6, CCL2, and IFNα in myeloid cells and FOXP3 in regulatory T cells. Human memory CD8+ T cells downregulate PD-1 and, along with monocytes, exert in vivo antitumor function. In xenograft and immunocompetent CLL mouse models, trabectedin has antileukemic effects and antitumor impact on the myeloid and lymphoid cells compartment. It depletes myeloid-derived suppressor cells and tumor-associated macrophages and increases memory T cells. Trabectedin also blocks the PD-1/PD-L1 axis by targeting PD-L1+ CLL cells, PD-L1+ monocytes/macrophages, and PD-1+ T cells. Thus, trabectedin behaves as an immunomodulatory drug with potentially attractive therapeutic value in the subversion of the protumor microenvironment and in overcoming chemoimmune resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Banerjee
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Ronghua Zhang
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Cristina Ivan
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Giovanni Galletti
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Karen Clise-Dwyer
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Federica Barbaglio
- B-cell Neoplasia Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Lydia Scarfò
- B-cell Neoplasia Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Christian Klein
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Oncology Discovery, Roche Innovation Center Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - William Wierda
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - William Plunkett
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Varsha Gandhi
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Michael J Keating
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Maria Teresa S Bertilaccio
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
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