Irreversible electroporation combined with checkpoint blockade and TLR7 stimulation induces antitumor immunity in a murine pancreatic cancer model

Jayanth S. Shankara Narayanan, Partha Ray, Tomoko Hayashi, Thomas C. Whisenant, Diego Vicente, Dennis A. Carson, Aaron M. Miller, Stephen P. Schoenberger, Rebekah R. White*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

73 Scopus citations

Abstract

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a nonthermal ablation technique that is used clinically in selected patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, but most patients develop recurrent distant metastatic disease. We hypothesize that IRE can induce an in situ vaccination effect by releasing tumor neoantigens in an inflammatory context. Using an immunocompetent mouse model, we demonstrated that IRE alone produced complete regression of subcutaneous tumors in approximately 20% to 30% of mice. IRE was not effective in immunodeficient mice. Mice with complete response to IRE demonstrated prophylactic immunity and remained tumor free when rechallenged with secondary tumors on the contralateral flank. CD8þ T cells from IRE-responsive mice were reactive against peptides representing model-inherent alloantigens and conferred protection against tumor challenge when adoptively transferred into immunocompromised, tumor-na€ve mice. Combining IRE with intratumoral Toll-like receptor-7 (TLR7) agonist (1V270) and systemic anti-programmed death-1 receptor (PD)-1 checkpoint blockade resulted in improved treatment responses. This combination also resulted in elimination of untreated concomitant distant tumors (abscopal effects), an effect not seen with IRE alone. These results suggest that the systemic antitumor immune response triggered by IRE can be enhanced by stimulating the innate immune system with a TLR7 agonist and the adaptive immune system with anti–PD-1 checkpoint blockade simultaneously. Combinatorial approaches such as this may help overcome the immunosuppressive pancreatic cancer microenvironment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1714-1726
Number of pages13
JournalCancer Immunology Research
Volume7
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Irreversible electroporation combined with checkpoint blockade and TLR7 stimulation induces antitumor immunity in a murine pancreatic cancer model'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this