TY - JOUR
T1 - GITR Ligation Improves Anti-PD1-Mediated Restoration of Human MMR-Proficient Colorectal Carcinoma Tumor-Derived T Cells
AU - Rakké, Yannick S
AU - Campos Carrascosa, Lucia
AU - van Beek, Adriaan A
AU - de Ruiter, Valeska
AU - van Gemerden, Rachelle S
AU - Doukas, Michail
AU - Doornebosch, Pascal G
AU - Vermaas, Maarten
AU - Ter Borg, Susan
AU - van der Harst, Erwin
AU - Coene, Peter Paul L O
AU - Kliffen, Mike
AU - Grünhagen, Dirk J
AU - Verhoef, Cornelis
AU - IJzermans, Jan N M
AU - Kwekkeboom, Jaap
AU - Sprengers, Dave
N1 - Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2023/1
Y1 - 2023/1
N2 - BACKGROUND & AIMS: In contrast to mismatch repair deficient colorectal carcinoma (CRC), MMR proficient (pMMR) CRC does not respond to immune checkpoint blockade. We studied immune checkpoint stimulation via glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor-related protein (GITR) on ex vivo functionality of human tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) isolated from pMMR primary CRC and liver metastases (CRLM).METHODS: Using lymphocytes from resected tumor, adjacent tissues, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 132 pMMR primary CRC or CRLM patients, we determined GITR expression and the in vitro T-cell agonistic activity of recombinant GITR ligation.RESULTS: Here, we show that GITR was overexpressed on TIL when compared with other stimulatory immune checkpoints (4-1BB, OX40). Its expression was enhanced in TIL compared with PBMC and adjacent tissues. Among CD4
+ TIL, GITR expression was primarily expressed by CD45RA
- FoxP3
hi activated regulatory T cells. Within CD8
+ TIL, GITR was predominantly expressed on functionally exhausted and putative tumor-reactive CD103
+ CD39
+ TIL. Strikingly, recombinant GITRL reinvigorated ex vivo TIL responses by significantly enhancing CD4
+ and CD8
+ TIL numbers. Dual treatment with GITRL and nivolumab (anti-PD1) enhanced CD8
+ TIL expansion compared with GITRL monotherapy. Moreover, GITRL/anti-PD1 dual therapy further improved anti-PD1-mediated reinvigoration of interferon gamma secretion by exhausted CD8 TIL from primary CRC.
CONCLUSIONS: GITR is overexpressed on CD4
+ and CD8
+ TIL from pMMR CRC and CRLM. Agonistic targeting of GITR enhances ex vivo human TIL functionality and may therefore be a promising approach for novel monotherapy or combined immunotherapies in primary pMRR CRC and CRLM.
AB - BACKGROUND & AIMS: In contrast to mismatch repair deficient colorectal carcinoma (CRC), MMR proficient (pMMR) CRC does not respond to immune checkpoint blockade. We studied immune checkpoint stimulation via glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor-related protein (GITR) on ex vivo functionality of human tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) isolated from pMMR primary CRC and liver metastases (CRLM).METHODS: Using lymphocytes from resected tumor, adjacent tissues, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 132 pMMR primary CRC or CRLM patients, we determined GITR expression and the in vitro T-cell agonistic activity of recombinant GITR ligation.RESULTS: Here, we show that GITR was overexpressed on TIL when compared with other stimulatory immune checkpoints (4-1BB, OX40). Its expression was enhanced in TIL compared with PBMC and adjacent tissues. Among CD4
+ TIL, GITR expression was primarily expressed by CD45RA
- FoxP3
hi activated regulatory T cells. Within CD8
+ TIL, GITR was predominantly expressed on functionally exhausted and putative tumor-reactive CD103
+ CD39
+ TIL. Strikingly, recombinant GITRL reinvigorated ex vivo TIL responses by significantly enhancing CD4
+ and CD8
+ TIL numbers. Dual treatment with GITRL and nivolumab (anti-PD1) enhanced CD8
+ TIL expansion compared with GITRL monotherapy. Moreover, GITRL/anti-PD1 dual therapy further improved anti-PD1-mediated reinvigoration of interferon gamma secretion by exhausted CD8 TIL from primary CRC.
CONCLUSIONS: GITR is overexpressed on CD4
+ and CD8
+ TIL from pMMR CRC and CRLM. Agonistic targeting of GITR enhances ex vivo human TIL functionality and may therefore be a promising approach for novel monotherapy or combined immunotherapies in primary pMRR CRC and CRLM.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85141961197&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2022.09.007
DO - 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2022.09.007
M3 - Article
C2 - 36155259
SN - 2352-345X
VL - 15
SP - 77
EP - 97
JO - Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology
JF - Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology
IS - 1
ER -