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Flow Cytometry-Based Isolation and Therapeutic Evaluation of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in a Mouse Model of Pancreatic Cancer
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STING unlocks CD4⁺ T cell immunity in pancreatic cancer

Bastian Kruse1, Ben P Leonhardt1, Jan P Böttcher2

  • 1Department of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; M3 Research Center, University Hospital Tübingen, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.

Cancer Cell
|June 11, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Pancreatic cancers are deadly and resist immunotherapy. Combining checkpoint blockade with STING immune stimulation activates CD4+ T cell immunity in mice, offering a new therapeutic strategy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) represent a lethal malignancy with significant resistance to current immunotherapies.
  • Effective immune control strategies for PDAC remain a critical unmet need in oncology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate novel therapeutic approaches for enhancing anti-tumor immunity in PDAC.
  • To explore the potential of combining checkpoint blockade with STING-mediated innate immune stimulation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a mouse model of PDAC.
  • Administered combined therapy involving checkpoint blockade and STING agonists.
  • Assessed immune cell activation, particularly CD4+ T cell responses driven by cDC2 cells.

Main Results:

  • The combination therapy successfully activated CD4+ T cell immunity.
  • This activation was dependent on CD11b+CD11cintCD64+ (cDC2) cells.
  • The treatment promoted significant immune-mediated control of PDAC growth in mice.

Conclusions:

  • Combining checkpoint blockade with STING stimulation is a promising strategy to overcome PDAC immunotherapy resistance.
  • The cDC2-driven CD4+ T cell axis is crucial for PDAC immune control.
  • This cellular axis presents a potential therapeutic target for future PDAC treatments.

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