Breaking immune tolerance by targeting CD25+ regulatory T cells is essential for the anti-tumor effect of the CTLA-4 blockade in an HLA-DR transgenic mouse model of prostate cancer.

INTRODUCTION

Recent studies suggest that the cancer immunotherapy based on the blockade of the CTLA-4-mediated inhibitory pathway is efficacious only in select populations, predominantly for immunogenic tumors or when delivered in combination with modalities that can break immunologic tolerance to tumor antigens.

METHODS

We studied the effect of CD25+ cell depletion and CTLA-4 blockade on the growth of Transgenic Mouse Adenocarcinoma of Prostate (TRAMP)-PSA tumor cells in DR2bxPSA F1 mice. In these mice, immunological tolerance to PSA was established in a context of the HLA-DRB1*1501(DR2b) allele.

RESULTS

In our model, single administration of anti-CD25 antibody prior to tumor inoculation significantly increased IFN-γ production in response to the CD8 T cell epitope PSA65-73 , and delayed TRAMP-PSA tumor growth compared to mice treated with isotype control antibodies. In contrast, the anti-tumor effect of the anti-CTLA-4 antibody as a monotherapy was marginal. The combinatory treatment with anti-CD25/anti-CTLA-4 antibodies significantly enhanced anti-tumor immunity and caused more profound delay in tumor growth compared to each treatment alone. The proportion of tumor-free animals was higher in the group that received combination treatment (21%) compared to other groups (2-7%). The enhanced anti-tumor immunity in response to the CD25 depletion or CTLA-4 blockade was only seen in the immunogenic TRAMP-PSA tumor model, whereas the effect was completely absent in mice bearing poorly immunogenic TRAMP-C1 tumors.

DISCUSSION

Our data suggest that breaking immunological tolerance to "self" antigens is essential for the therapeutic effect of CTLA-4 blockade. Such combinatory treatment may be a promising approach for prostate cancer immunotherapy.