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Platelet PD-L1 suppresses anti-cancer immune cell activity in PD-L1 negative tumors

Alexander B Zaslavsky1,2, M P Adams3,4, X Cao3,4

  • 1Department of Urology, University of Michigan Medical School, 3875 Taubman Center, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI, USA. azaslavs@med.umich.edu.

Scientific Reports
|November 10, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Platelet-derived programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) fuels PD-L1 negative tumors. Blocking platelet binding to cancer cells enhances anti-tumor immunity, explaining therapy success in PD-L1 negative cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Cancer Biology

Background:

  • Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) checkpoint inhibitors are effective cancer therapies.
  • The efficacy of these therapies in PD-L1 negative tumors is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of platelet-derived PD-L1 in PD-L1 negative tumors.
  • To explore the mechanism by which PD-1/PD-L1 inhibition benefits patients with PD-L1 negative tumors.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated the function of platelet-derived PD-L1 in regulating tumor growth.
  • Examined the effect of blocking platelet binding to cancer cells on T cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

Main Results:

  • Platelet-derived PD-L1 was found to regulate the growth of PD-L1 negative tumors.
  • Interference with platelet binding to PD-L1 negative cancer cells enhanced T cell-induced cancer cytotoxicity.
  • Intra-tumoral platelets may contribute to the success of PD-1/PD-L1 therapies in PD-L1 negative tumors.

Conclusions:

  • Non-cancer and non-immune cells, such as platelets, contribute PD-L1 to the tumor microenvironment, promoting immune evasion.
  • Combining PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors with antiplatelet agents may be a promising strategy for treating PD-L1 negative tumors.

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