CD155 blockade enhances allogeneic natural killer cell-mediated antitumor response against osteosarcoma

Allogeneic bone marrow transplant (alloBMT) is curative for hematologic malignancies through the graft-versus-tumor (GVT) effect but has been ineffective for solid tumors like osteosarcoma (OS). OS expresses CD155 which interacts strongly with inhibitory receptors TIGIT and CD96 but also binds to activating receptor DNAM-1 on natural killer (NK) cells. CD155 has never been targeted after alloBMT. Combining adoptively transferred allogeneic NK (alloNK) cells with CD155 blockade after alloBMT may enhance a GVT effect against OS.

Murine NK cells were activated and expanded ex vivo with soluble IL-15/IL-15Rα. AlloNK and syngeneic NK (synNK) cell phenotype, cytotoxicity, cytokine production, and degranulation against CD155-expressing murine OS cell line K7M2 were assessed in vitro. Mice bearing pulmonary OS metastases underwent alloBMT and alloNK cell infusion with anti-CD155 either before or after tumor induction, with select groups receiving anti-DNAM-1 pretreated alloNK cells. Tumor growth, GVHD and survival were monitored, and differential gene expression of lung tissue was assessed by RNA microarray.

AlloNK cells exhibited superior cytotoxicity against CD155-expressing OS compared to synNK cells, and this activity was enhanced by CD155 blockade. CD155 blockade increased alloNK cell degranulation and interferon gamma production through DNAM-1. In vivo, CD155 blockade with alloNK infusion increased survival when treating OS that relapsed after alloBMT. No benefit was seen for treating established OS before alloBMT. Treatment with combination CD155 and anti-DNAM-1 pretreated alloNK ameliorated survival and tumor control benefits seen with CD155 blockade alone. RNA microarray showed mice treated with alloNK and CD155 blockade had increased expression of cytotoxicity genes and the NKG2D ligand H60a, whereas mice treated with anti-DNAM-1 pretreated alloNK cells resulted in upregulation of NK cell inhibitory receptor genes. Whereas blocking DNAM-1 on alloNK abrogated cytotoxicity, blocking NKG2D had no effect, implying DNAM-1:CD155 engagement drives alloNK activation against OS.

These results demonstrate the safety and efficacy of infusing alloNK cells with CD155 blockade to mount a GVT effect against OS and show benefits are in part through DNAM-1. Defining the hierarchy of receptors that govern alloNK responses is critical to translating alloNK cell infusions and immune checkpoint inhibition for solid tumors treated with alloBMT.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplant (alloBMT) has yet to show efficacy in treating solid tumors, such as osteosarcoma (OS). CD155 is expressed on OS and interacts with natural killer (NK) cell receptors, such as activating receptor DNAM-1 and inhibitory receptors TIGIT and CD96 and has a dominant inhibitory effect on NK cell activity. Targeting CD155 interactions on allogeneic NK cells could enhance anti-OS responses, but this has not been tested after alloBMT.

CD155 blockade enhances allogeneic natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity against OS and improved event-free survival after alloBMT in an in vivo mouse model of metastatic pulmonary OS. Addition of DNAM-1 blockade abrogated CD155 blockade-enhanced allogeneic NK cell antitumor responses.

These results demonstrate efficacy of allogeneic NK cells combined with CD155 blockade to mount an antitumor response against CD155-expressing OS. Translation of combination adoptive NK cell and CD155 axis modulation offers a platform for alloBMT treatment approaches for pediatric patients with relapsed and refractory solid tumors.