Steroid Receptor Coactivator-3 is a Key Modulator of Regulatory T Cell-Mediated Tumor Evasion

Steroid receptor coactivator 3 (SRC-3) is most strongly expressed in regulatory T cells (Tregs) and B cells, suggesting that it plays an important role in the regulation of Treg function. Using an aggressive E0771 mouse breast cell line syngeneic immune-intact murine model, we observed that breast tumors were 'permanently eradicated' in a genetically engineered tamoxifen-inducible Treg-cell specific SRC-3 knockout (KO) female mouse that does not possess a systemic autoimmune pathological phenotype. A similar eradication of tumor was noted in a syngeneic model of prostate cancer. A subsequent injection of additional E0771 cancer cells into these mice showed continued resistance to tumor development without the need for tamoxifen induction to produce additional SRC-3 KO Tregs. SRC-3 KO Tregs were highly proliferative and preferentially infiltrated into breast tumors by activating the Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand (Ccl) 19/Ccl21/ Chemokine (C-C motif) Receptor (Ccr)7 signaling axis, generating antitumor immunity by enhancing the interferon-γ/C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand (Cxcl) 9 signaling axis to facilitate the entrance and function of effector T cells and Natural Killer cells. SRC-3 KO Tregs also show a dominant effect by blocking the immune suppressive function of WT Tregs. Importantly, a single adoptive transfer of SRC-3 KO Tregs into wild-type E0771 tumor-bearing mice can completely abolish pre-established breast tumors by generating potent antitumor immunity with a durable effect that prevents tumor reoccurrence. Therefore, treatment with SRC-3 deleted Tregs represents a novel approach to completely block tumor growth and recurrence without the autoimmune side-effects that typically accompany immune checkpoint modulators.

Tregs are essential in restraining immune responses for immune homeostasis. SRC-3 is a pleiotropic coactivator, the second-most highly expressed transcriptional coactivator in Tregs, and a suspect in Treg function. The disruption of SRC-3 expression in Tregs leads to a 'complete lifetime eradication' of tumors in aggressive syngeneic breast cancer mouse models because deletion of SRC-3 alters the expression of a wide range of key genes involved in efferent and afferent Treg signaling. SRC-3KO Tregs confer this long-lasting protection against cancer recurrence in mice without an apparent systemic autoimmune pathological phenotype. Therefore, treatment with SRC-3 deleted Tregs could represent a novel and efficient future target for eliminating tumor growth and recurrence without the autoimmune side-effects that typically accompany immune checkpoint modulators.