Concomitant targeting of tumor cells and induction of T-cell response synergizes to effectively inhibit trastuzumab-resistant breast cancer

Qingfei Wang, Shau Hsuan Li, Hai Wang, Yi Xiao, Ozgur Sahin, Samuel W. Brady, Ping Li, Hailiang Ge, Elizabeth M. Jaffee, William J. Muller, Gabriel N. Hortobagyi, Dihua Yu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

Trastuzumab is an iconic rationally designed targeted therapy for HER2-positive breast cancers. However, the low response rate and development of resistance call for novel approaches for the treatment of patients. Here, we report that concurrent targeting of tumor cells and activation of T cells in the tumor microenvironment results in a synergistic inhibitory effect on tumor growth and overcomes resistance in two distinct PTEN loss-mediated trastuzumab-resistant mammary tumor mouse models. In vivo combination treatment with HER2/Neu antibody and Akt inhibitor triciribine effectively inhibited tumor growth in both models via inhibiting PI3K/AKT and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling accompanied by increased T-cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment. We showed that both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells were essential to the optimal antitumor effect of this combination treatment in an IFNγ-dependent manner. Importantly, the antitumor activities of HER2/Neu antibody and triciribine combination treatment were further improved when coinhibitory receptor cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 was blocked to enhance the T-cell response. Our data indicate that multitargeted combinatorial therapies targeting tumor cells and concomitantly enhancing T-cell response in the tumor microenvironment could cooperate to exert maximal therapeutic activity, suggesting a promising clinical strategy for treating trastuzumab-resistant breast cancers and other advanced malignancies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4417-4428
Number of pages12
JournalCancer Research
Volume72
Issue number17
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

MD Anderson CCSG core facilities

  • Research Animal Support Facility

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