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Secretion of Tumor-Specific Antigen by Myeloma Cells Is Required for Cancer Immunosurveillance by CD4⁺ T Cells

Center for Immune Regulation, Institute of Immunology, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway

Requests for reprints: Alexandre Corthay, University of Oslo, Institute of Immunology, Rikshospitalet, 0027 Oslo, Norway. Phone: 47-23-07-35-08; Fax: 47-23-07-35-10; E-mail: Alexandre.Corthay{at}medisin.uio.no.

Key Words: Cancer immunosurveillance • CD4⁺ T cells • Myeloma • Secretion • Tumor-specific antigen

Tumor-specific CD4⁺ T cells orchestrate the adaptive immune responses against cancer. We have previously shown that CD4⁺ T cells recognize MHC class II–negative myeloma cells indirectly by collaborating with tumor-infiltrating macrophages. We, here, hypothesize that this critical step may be dependent on secretion of tumor-specific antigens by cancer cells. This was investigated using T-cell receptor–transgenic mice, in which CD4⁺ T cells mediate rejection of syngeneic MOPC315 myeloma cells. We analyzed the immune response against myeloma cell variants, which either secrete or retain intracellularly a tumor-specific idiotypic (Id) antigen. Our results reveal that CD4⁺ T cells helped by macrophages are capable of detecting nonsecreted tumor antigens from MHC class II–negative cancer cells. However, Id secretion was required for successful myeloma immunosurveillance. Antigen secretion resulted in stronger priming of naive myeloma-specific CD4⁺ T cells in tumor-draining lymph nodes. Secretion of antigen by at least some cancer cells within a tumor was shown to facilitate immunosurveillance. Treatment by local injection of purified tumor-specific antigen successfully enhanced immunity against nonsecreting myeloma cells. Collectively, the data indicate that antigen concentration within the tumor extracellular matrix must reach a certain threshold to allow successful cancer immunosurveillance by CD4⁺ T cells. [Cancer Res 2009;69(14):5901–7]