Tumor vessel normalization, immunostimulatory reprogramming, and improved survival in glioblastoma with combined inhibition of PD-1, angiopoietin-2, and VEGF

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Mariangela Di Tacchio - , University Hospital Frankfurt, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)
  • Jadranka MacAs - , University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt Cancer Institute (Author)
  • Jakob Weissenberger - , University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt Cancer Institute (Author)
  • Kathleen Sommer - , University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt Cancer Institute (Author)
  • Oliver Bähr - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Frankfurt Cancer Institute, University Hospital Frankfurt (Author)
  • Joachim P. Steinbach - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Frankfurt Cancer Institute, University Hospital Frankfurt (Author)
  • Christian Senft - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), University Hospital Frankfurt (Author)
  • Volker Seifert - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), University Hospital Frankfurt (Author)
  • Martin Glas - , University of Duisburg-Essen, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)
  • Ulrich Herrlinger - , University of Bonn (Author)
  • Dietmar Krex - , Department of Neurosurgery, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Matthias Meinhardt - , Institute of Pathology, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Astrid Weyerbrock - , University of Freiburg, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen (Author)
  • Marco Timmer - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • Roland Goldbrunner - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • Martina Deckert - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • Andreas H. Scheel - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • Reinhard Büttner - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • Oliver M. Grauer - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Jens Schittenhelm - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Ghazaleh Tabatabai - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Patrick N. Harter - , University Hospital Frankfurt, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Frankfurt Cancer Institute (Author)
  • Stefan Günther - , Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research (Author)
  • Kavi Devraj - , University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt Cancer Institute (Author)
  • Karl H. Plate - , University Hospital Frankfurt, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Frankfurt Cancer Institute (Author)
  • Yvonne Reiss - , University Hospital Frankfurt, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Frankfurt Cancer Institute (Author)

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a non-T-cell-inflamed cancer characterized by an immunosuppressive microenvironment that impedes dendritic cell maturation and T-cell cytotoxicity. Proangiogenic cytokines such as VEGF and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) have high expression in glioblastoma in a cellspecific manner and not only drive tumor angiogenesis and vascular permeability but also negatively regulate T-lymphocyte and innate immune cell responses. Consequently, the alleviation of immunosuppression might be a prerequisite for successful immune checkpoint therapy inGBM.Wehere combined antiangiogenic and immune checkpoint therapy and demonstrated improved therapeutic efficacy in syngeneic, orthotopic GBM models. We observed that blockade of VEGF, Ang-2, and programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) significantly extended survival compared with vascular targeting alone. In the GBM microenvironment, triple therapy increased the numbers of CTLs,which inversely correlated with myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells. Transcriptome analysis of GBM microvessels indicated a global vascular normalization that was highest after triple therapy. Our results propose a rationale to overcome tumor immunosuppression and the current limitations of VEGFmonotherapy by integrating the synergistic effects of VEGF/Ang-2 and PD-1 blockade to reinforce antitumor immunity through a normalized vasculature.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1910-1927
Number of pages18
JournalCancer immunology research
Volume7
Issue number12
Publication statusPublished - 2019
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 31597643

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

ASJC Scopus subject areas