CCR5 status and metastatic progression in colorectal cancer

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Meggy Suarez-Carmona - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University , Helmholtz-Institute for Translational Oncology Mainz (HI-TRON Mainz) (Author)
  • Pornpimol Chaorentong - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)
  • Jakob Nikolas Kather - , Heidelberg University , RWTH Aachen University (Author)
  • Rebecca Rothenheber - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Azaz Ahmed - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Anna Berthel - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Anita Heinzelmann - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Rodrigo Moraleda - , Heidelberg University , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)
  • Nektarios A. Valous - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)
  • Zeynep Kosaloglu - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)
  • Rosa Eurich - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Jana Wolf - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Silke Grauling-Halama - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University , Helmholtz-Institute for Translational Oncology Mainz (HI-TRON Mainz) (Author)
  • Michael Hundemer - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Felix Lasitschka - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Fee Klupp - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Christoph Kahlert - , Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Alexis Ulrich - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Martin Schneider - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Christine Falk - , Hannover Medical School (MHH) (Author)
  • Dirk Jäger - , Heidelberg University , Helmholtz-Institute for Translational Oncology Mainz (HI-TRON Mainz) (Author)
  • Inka Zoernig - , Heidelberg University , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)
  • Niels Halama - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University , Helmholtz-Institute for Translational Oncology Mainz (HI-TRON Mainz) (Author)

Abstract

Multiple reports have highlighted the importance of the local immunological cellular composition (i.e. the density of effector T cells and macrophage polarization state) in predicting clinical outcome in advanced metastatic stage of colorectal cancer. However, in spite of the general association between a high effector T cell density and improved outcome, our recent work has revealed a specific lymphocyte-driven cancer cell-supporting signal. Indeed, lymphocyte-derived CCL5 supports CCR5-positive tumor cell proliferation and thereby fosters tumor growth in metastatic liver lesions. Upon systematic analysis of CCR5 expression by tumor cells using immunohistochemistry, we observed that the intensity of CCR5 increases with primary tumor size and peaks in T4 tumors. In liver metastases however, though CCR5 expression intensity is globally heightened compared to primary tumors, alterations in the expression patterns appear, leading to “patchiness” of the stain. CCR5 patchiness is, therefore, a signature of liver metastases in our cohort (n = 97 specimens) and relates to globally decreased expression intensity, but does not influence the extent of the response to CCR5 inhibitor Maraviroc in patients. Moreover, CCR5 patchiness relates to a poor immune landscape characterized by a low cytotoxic-to-regulatory T cell ratio at the invasive margin and enriched cellular and molecular markers of macrophage M2 polarization. Finally, because higher numbers of PD-1- and CTLA-4-positive cells surround tumors with patchy CCR5 expression, one can speculate that these tumors potentially respond to immune checkpoint blockade. This hypothesis is corroborated by the prolonged disease-free survival and disease-specific survival observed in patients with low gene expression of CCR5 in metastases from two publically available cohorts. These observations highlight the complex role of the CCL5-CCR5 axis in CRC metastatic progression and warrant further investigations.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere1626193
JournalOncoimmunology
Volume8
Issue number9
Publication statusPublished - 2 Sept 2019
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 31428524

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • CCL5, CCR5, colorectal cancer, disease free survival, immune checkpoint, immunotherapy, macrophages, microenvironment, T cells