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Systemic Blockade of Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling Augments the Efficacy of Immunogene Therapy

¹ Thoracic Oncology Research Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and ² Oncology Cell Signaling, Biogen Idec, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Requests for reprints: Steven M. Albelda, Thoracic Oncology Research Laboratory, 1016B ARC, University of Pennsylvania, 3615 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6160. Phone: 215-573-9933; Fax: 215-573-4469; E-mail: albelda{at}mail.med.upenn.edu.

Key Words: tumor immunology • immunosuppression • TGF-β • tumor-associated macrophages • cytokines • lung cancer • mesothelioma • tumor vaccine • IFN-β

Locally produced transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) promotes tumor-induced immunosuppression and contributes to resistance to immunotherapy. This article explores the potential for increased efficacy when combining immunotherapies with TGF-β suppression using the TGF-β type I receptor kinase inhibitor SM16. Adenovirus expressing IFN-β (Ad.IFN-β) was injected intratumorally once in established s.c. AB12 (mesothelioma) and LKR (lung cancer) tumors or intratracheally in a Kras orthotopic lung tumor model. Mice bearing TC1 (lung cancer) tumors were vaccinated with two injections of adenovirus expressing human papillomavirus-E7 (HPV-E7; Ad.E7). SM16 was administered orally in formulated chow. Tumor growth was assessed and cytokine expression and cell populations were measured in tumors and spleens by real-time PCR and flow cytometry. SM16 potentiated the efficacy of both immunotherapies in each of the models and caused changes in the tumor microenvironment. The combination of SM16 and Ad.IFN-β increased the number of intratumoral leukocytes (including macrophages, natural killer cells, and CD8⁺ cells) and increased the percentage of T cells expressing the activation marker CD25. SM16 also augmented the antitumor effects of Ad.E7 in the TC1 flank tumor model. The combination did not increase HPV-E7 tetramer-positive CD8⁺ T cells in the spleens but did induce a marked increase in the tumors. Tumors from SM16-treated mice showed increased mRNA and protein for immunostimulatory cytokines and chemokines, as well as endothelial adhesion molecules, suggesting a mechanism for the increased intratumoral leukocyte trafficking. Blockade of the TGF-β signaling pathway augments the antitumor effects of Ad.IFN-β immune-activating or Ad.E7 vaccination therapy. The addition of TGF-β blocking agents in clinical trials of immunotherapies may increase efficacy. [Cancer Res 2008;68(24):10247–56

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