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Liu C, Zheng S, Wang Z, Wang S, Wang X, Yang L, Xu H, Cao Z, Feng X, Xue Q, Wang Y, Sun N, He J. KRAS-G12D mutation drives immune suppression and the primary resistance of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer. Cancer Commun (Lond) 2022; 42:828-847. [PMID: 35811500 PMCID: PMC9456691 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) against programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L1 have demonstrated potency towards treating patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), the potential association between Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) oncogene substitutions and the efficacy of ICIs remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to find point mutations in the KRAS gene resistant to ICIs and elucidate resistance mechanism. METHODS The association between KRAS variant status and the efficacy of ICIs was explored with a clinical cohort (n = 74), and confirmed with a mouse model. In addition, the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) of KRAS-mutant NSCLC, such as CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and PD-L1 level, was investigated. Cell lines expressing classic KRAS substitutions were used to explore signaling pathway activation involved in the formation of TIME. Furthermore, interventions that improved TIME were developed to increase responsiveness to ICIs. RESULTS We observed the inferior efficacy of ICIs in KRAS-G12D-mutant NSCLC. Based upon transcriptome data and immunostaining results from KRAS-mutant NSCLC, KRAS-G12D point mutation negatively correlated with PD-L1 level and secretion of chemokines CXCL10/CXCL11 that led to a decrease in CD8+ TILs, which in turn yielded an immunosuppressive TIME. The analysis of cell lines overexpressing classic KRAS substitutions further revealed that KRAS-G12D mutation suppressed PD-L1 level via the P70S6K/PI3K/AKT axis and reduced CXCL10/CXCL11 levels by down-regulating high mobility group protein A2 (HMGA2) level. Notably, paclitaxel, a chemotherapeutic agent, upregulated HMGA2 level, and in turn, stimulated the secretion of CXCL10/CXCL11. Moreover, PD-L1 blockade combined with paclitaxel significantly suppressed tumor growth compared with PD-L1 inhibitor monotherapy in a mouse model with KRAS-G12D-mutant lung adenocarcinoma. Further analyses revealed that the combined treatment significantly enhanced the recruitment of CD8+ TILs via the up-regulation of CXCL10/CXCL11 levels. Results of clinical study also revealed the superior efficacy of chemo-immunotherapy in patients with KRAS-G12D-mutant NSCLC compared with ICI monotherapy. CONCLUSIONS Our study elucidated the molecular mechanism by which KRAS-G12D mutation drives immunosuppression and enhances resistance of ICIs in NSCLC. Importantly, our findings demonstrate that ICIs in combination with chemotherapy may be more effective in patients with KRAS-G12D-mutant NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengming Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, P. R. China
| | - Sufei Zheng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, P. R. China
| | - Zhanyu Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, P. R. China
| | - Sihui Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, P. R. China
| | - Xinfeng Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, P. R. China
| | - Lu Yang
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, P. R. China
| | - Haiyan Xu
- Department of Comprehensive Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, P. R. China
| | - Zheng Cao
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoli Feng
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, P. R. China
| | - Qi Xue
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, P. R. China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, P. R. China
| | - Nan Sun
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, P. R. China
| | - Jie He
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, P. R. China
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Abstract
Dimorphic amino acids at positions 77 and 80 delineate HLA-C allotypes into two groups, C1 and C2, which associate with disease through interactions with C1 and C2-specific natural killer cell receptors. How the C1/C2 dimorphism affects T cell recognition is unknown. Using HLA-C allotypes that differ only by the C1/C2-defining residues, we found that KRAS-G12D neoantigen-specific T cell receptors (TCRs) discriminated between C1 and C2 presenting the same KRAS-G12D peptides. Structural and functional experiments, and immunopeptidomics analysis revealed that Ser77 in C1 and Asn77 in C2 influence amino acid preference near the peptide C-terminus (pΩ), including the pΩ-1 position, in which C1 favors small and C2 prefers large residues. This resulted in weaker TCR affinity for KRAS-G12D-bound C2-HLA-C despite conserved TCR contacts. Thus, the C1/C2 dimorphism on its own impacts peptide presentation and HLA-C-restricted T cell responses, with implications in disease, including adoptive T cell therapy targeting KRAS-G12D-induced cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malcolm J W Sim
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthRockvilleUnited States
| | - Zachary Stotz
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthRockvilleUnited States
| | - Jinghua Lu
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthRockvilleUnited States
| | - Paul Brennan
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthRockvilleUnited States
| | - Eric O Long
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthRockvilleUnited States
| | - Peter D Sun
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthRockvilleUnited States
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