Identification of factors determing the therapeutic efficacy of combined cancer immunotherapy with intrarumoral administration of dendritic cells

2024 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K07304
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 50020:Tumor diagnostics and therapeutics-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: OGINO Hirokazu 徳島大学, 病院, 講師 (20745294)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 三橋 惇志 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部(医学域), 特任講師 (00833732) ; 木宿 昌俊 徳島大学, 病院, 薬剤師 (90597501)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2025-03-31
• Keywords: 複合がん免疫療法 / 樹状細胞 / 腫瘍内免疫療法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To evaluate the efficacy of a novel combined cancer immunotherapy involving intratumoral administration of dendritic cells (DCs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), we conducted a series of experiments. In a subcutaneous transplantation model using the murine pleural mesothelioma cell line AB1-HA, the concurrent intratumoral injection of bone marrow-derived DCs and ICIs elicited a systemic anti-tumor immune response. This response appeared to occur through mechanisms independent of CD80/CD86 signaling on DCs. Furthermore, in an intrathoracic transplantation model of AB1-HA cells, the combination therapy of intrathoracic DC administration and ICIs significantly prolonged overall survival. These findings suggest that the combination of intratumoral DC therapy and ICIs could represent a promising new approach in cancer immunotherapy.

Free Research Field

がん免疫療法

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の成果は、樹状細胞腫瘍内投与とICIの併用療法が、難治性で予後不良な疾患である胸部悪性腫瘍に対する有用な新規複合がん免疫療法になり得る可能性を示唆している。特に胸膜中皮腫は治療法が限られ依然として極めて予後不良の疾患である。胸膜中皮腫は臨床的にも腫瘍内へ樹状細胞を投与することが可能であり、その臨床応用が期待される点で意義のある研究成果と考える。