Tumor eradication by hetIL-15 locoregional therapy correlates with an induced intratumoral CD103intCD11b+ dendritic cell population

Locoregional monotherapy with heterodimeric interleukin (IL)-15 (hetIL-15) in a triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) orthotopic mouse model resulted in tumor eradication in 40% of treated mice, reduction of metastasis, and induction of immunological memory against breast cancer cells. hetIL-15 re-shaped the tumor microenvironment by promoting the intratumoral accumulation of cytotoxic lymphocytes, conventional type 1 dendritic cells (cDC1s), and a dendritic cell (DC) population expressing both CD103 and CD11b markers. These CD103intCD11b+DCs share phenotypic and gene expression characteristics with both cDC1s and cDC2s, have transcriptomic profiles more similar to monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs), and correlate with tumor regression. Therefore, hetIL-15, a cytokine directly affecting lymphocytes and inducing cytotoxic cells, also has an indirect rapid and significant effect on the recruitment of myeloid cells, initiating a cascade for tumor elimination through innate and adoptive immune mechanisms. The intratumoral CD103intCD11b+DC population induced by hetIL-15 may be targeted for the development of additional cancer immunotherapy approaches.

The Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Immunotherapy for Gastric Esophageal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis and Literature Review

Background:

Treatment options for advanced gastric esophageal cancer are quite limited. Chemotherapy is unavoidable at certain stages, and research on targeted therapies has mostly failed. The advent of immunotherapy has brought hope for the treatment of advanced gastric esophageal cancer. The aim of the study was to analyze the safety of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy and the long-term survival of patients who were diagnosed as gastric esophageal cancer and received anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy.

Method:

Studies on anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy of advanced gastric esophageal cancer published before February 1, 2020 were searched online. The survival (e.g. 6-month overall survival, 12-month overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rates (ORR)) and adverse effects of immunotherapy were compared to that of control therapy (physician’s choice of therapy).

Results:

After screening 185 studies, 4 comparative cohort studies which reported the long-term survival of patients receiving immunotherapy were included. Compared to control group, the 12-month survival (OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.31 to 2.12, P < 0.0001) and 18-month survival (OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.39 to 2.81, P = 0.0001) were significantly longer in immunotherapy group. The 3-month survival rate (OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 0.36 to 3.06, P = 0.92) and 18-month survival rate (OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 0.98 to 2.12, P = 0.07) were not significantly different between immunotherapy group and control group. The ORR were not significantly different between immunotherapy group and control group (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 0.65 to 3.66, P = 0.01). Meta-analysis pointed out that in the PD-L1 CPS ≥10 sub group population, the immunotherapy could obviously benefit the patients in tumor response rates (OR = 3.80, 95% CI: 1.89 to 7.61, P = 0.0002).

Conclusion:

For the treatment of advanced gastric esophageal cancer, the therapeutic efficacy of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy was superior to that of chemotherapy or palliative care.