Clock pathway inhibitor overcomes tumor immune-exclusion via regulation of fibrocyte differentiation

Tumor stroma inhibits lymphocyte infiltration and induces resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). αSMA⁺ cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) were suggested to form immune-excluded tumors. We previously reported roles of fibrocytes, collagen-expressing monocyte-derived cells, in tumor progression. Considering the aspect of fibrocytes as precursors of CAFs, we focused on fibrocyte differentiation to overcome immune exclusion. In resected lung adenocarcinoma tissues, fibrocytes were abundant in αSMA⁺ CAF-rich and immune-excluded tumors. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that tumor-infiltrating fibrocytes expressed clock genes. The clock pathway inhibitor KL001 suppressed the differentiation of fibrocytes into αSMA⁺ CAFs in vitro without affecting αSMA expression in fibroblasts. Furthermore, clock pathway inhibitors decreased αSMA⁺ CAFs and facilitated the infiltration of various immune cells in vivo. In addition, KL001 augmented the efficacy of ICIs by converting immune-excluded tumors into immune-active "hot tumors." Clock genes governing the differentiation of fibrocytes may provide a breakthrough in overcoming immune exclusion.