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Published on: June 12, 2021
Tumor Interferon Signaling Regulates a Multigenic Resistance Program to Immune Checkpoint Blockade
Joseph L Benci1, Bihui Xu1, Yu Qiu1
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Prolonged interferon signaling drives resistance to cancer immunotherapies like PD1 blockade. Inhibiting this signaling can restore anti-tumor immunity and improve responses to checkpoint inhibitors.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies targeting the PD1 pathway show significant anti-tumor efficacy.
- However, resistance to ICB is a common clinical challenge, limiting treatment success.
- Understanding resistance mechanisms is crucial for improving cancer immunotherapy outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of prolonged interferon signaling in mediating resistance to ICB and combination therapies.
- To identify the molecular pathways involved in interferon-driven resistance.
- To explore therapeutic strategies to overcome this resistance.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of tumor samples and T cell populations.
- Genetic and pharmacological manipulation of interferon signaling pathways.
- Assessment of T cell function and tumor response to immunotherapy.
Main Results:
- Prolonged type I and II interferon signaling promotes PDL1-dependent and independent resistance to ICB and combination therapies.
- Interferon signaling induces STAT1-related epigenomic changes and upregulates inhibitory receptor ligands.
- Inhibition of interferon signaling restores T cell function and renders resistant tumors sensitive to ICB monotherapy.
- Biomarkers of interferon-driven resistance correlate with clinical progression after anti-PD1 therapy.
Conclusions:
- Tumor interferon signaling is a key driver of adaptive resistance to cancer immunotherapy.
- Targeting interferon response pathways can overcome resistance and enhance anti-tumor immunity.
- Inhibiting interferon signaling may bypass the need for complex combinatorial immunotherapy regimens.
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