Decitabine enhances targeting of AML cells by CD34+ progenitor-derived NK cells in NOD/SCID/IL2Rgnull mice.

Combining natural killer (NK) cell adoptive transfer with hypomethylating agents (HMAs) is an attractive therapeutic approach for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, data regarding the impact of HMAs on NK cell functionality are mostly derived from in vitro studies with high nonclinical relevant drug concentrations. In the present study, we report a comparative study of azacitidine (AZA) and decitabine (DAC) in combination with allogeneic NK cells generated from CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC-NK cells) in in vitro and in vivo AML models. In vitro, low-dose HMAs did not impair viability of HSPC-NK cells. Furthermore, low-dose DAC preserved HSPC-NK killing, proliferation, and interferon gamma production capacity, whereas AZA diminished their proliferation and reactivity. Importantly, we showed HMAs and HSPC-NK cells could potently work together to target AML cell lines and patient AML blasts. In vivo, both agents exerted a significant delay in AML progression in NOD/SCID/IL2Rgnull mice, but the persistence of adoptively transferred HSPC-NK cells was not affected. Infused NK cells showed sustained expression of most activating receptors, upregulated NKp44 expression, and remarkable killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor acquisition. Most importantly, only DAC potentiated HSPC-NK cell anti-leukemic activity in vivo. Besides upregulation of NKG2D- and DNAM-1-activating ligands on AML cells, DAC enhanced messenger RNA expression of inflammatory cytokines, perforin, and TRAIL by HSPC-NK cells. In addition, treatment resulted in increased numbers of HSPC-NK cells in the bone marrow compartment, suggesting that DAC could positively modulate NK cell activity, trafficking, and tumor targeting. These data provide a rationale to explore combination therapy of adoptive HSPC-NK cells and DAC in patients with AML.

Mapping the complexity and diversity of tertiary lymphoid structures in primary and peritoneal metastatic gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) are thought to stimulate antitumor immunity and positively impact prognosis and response to immune checkpoint blockade. In gastric cancers (GCs), however, TLSs are predominantly found in GC with poor prognosis and limited treatment response. We, therefore, hypothesize that immune cell composition and function of TLS depends on tumor location and the tumor immune environment. METHODS: Spatial transcriptomics and immunohistochemistry were used to characterize the phenotype of CD45+ immune cells inside and outside of TLS using archival resection specimens from GC primary tumors and peritoneal metastases. RESULTS: We identified significant intrapatient and interpatient diversity of the cellular composition and maturation status of TLS in GC. Tumor location (primary vs metastatic site) accounted for the majority of differences in TLS maturity, as TLS in peritoneal metastases were predominantly immature. This was associated with higher levels of tumor-infiltrating macrophages and Tregs and less plasma cells compared with tumors with mature TLS. Furthermore, mature TLSs were characterized by overexpression of antitumor immune pathways such as B cell-related pathways, MHC class II antigen presentation while immature TLS were associated with protumor pathways, including T cell exhaustion and enhancement of DNA repair pathways in the corresponding cancer. CONCLUSION: The observation that GC-derived peritoneal metastases often contain immature TLS which are associated with immune suppressive regulatory tumor-infiltrating leucocytes, is in keeping with the lack of response to immune checkpoint blockade and the poor prognostic features of peritoneal metastatic GC, which needs to be taken into account when optimizing immunomodulatory strategies for metastatic GC.