A non-lipid nucleic acid delivery vector with dendritic cell tropism and stimulation.

Rationale: Nucleic acid constructs are commonly used for vaccination, immune stimulation, and gene therapy, but their use in cancer still remains limited. One of the reasons is that systemic delivery to tumor-associated antigen-presenting cells (dendritic cells and macrophages) is often inefficient, while off-target nucleic acid-sensing immune pathways can stimulate systemic immune responses. Conversely, certain carbohydrate nanoparticles with small molecule payloads have been shown to target these cells efficiently in the tumor microenvironment. Yet, nucleic acid incorporation into such carbohydrate-based nanoparticles has proven challenging. Methods: We developed a novel approach using cross-linked bis succinyl-cyclodextrin (b-s-CD) nanoparticles to efficiently deliver nucleic acids and small-molecule immune enhancer to phagocytic cells in tumor environments and lymph nodes. Our study involved incorporating these components into the nanoparticles and assessing their efficacy in activating antigen-presenting cells. Results: The multi-modality immune stimulators effectively activated antigen-presenting cells and promoted anti-tumor immunity in vivo. This was evidenced by enhanced delivery to phagocytic cells and subsequent immune response activation in tumor environments and lymph nodes. Conclusion: Here, we describe a new approach to incorporating both nucleic acids and small-molecule immune enhancers into cross-linked bis succinyl-cyclodextrin (b-s-CD) nanoparticles for efficient delivery to phagocytic cells in tumor environments and lymph nodes in vivo. These multi-modality immune stimulators can activate antigen-presenting cells and foster anti-tumor immunity. We argue that this strategy can potentially be used to enhance anti-tumor efficacy.

Pharmacological Polarization of Tumor-Associated Macrophages Toward a CXCL9 Antitumor Phenotype.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) are a diverse population of myeloid cells that are often abundant and immunosuppressive in human cancers. CXCL9Hi TAM has recently been described to have an antitumor phenotype and is linked to immune checkpoint response. Despite the emerging understanding of the unique antitumor TAM phenotype, there is a lack of TAM-specific therapeutics to exploit this new biological understanding. Here, the discovery and characterization of multiple small-molecule enhancers of chemokine ligand 9 (CXCL9) and their targeted delivery in a TAM-avid systemic nanoformulation is reported. With this strategy, it is efficient encapsulation and release of multiple drug loads that can efficiently induce CXCL9 expression in macrophages, both in vitro and in vivo in a mouse tumor model. These observations provide a window into the molecular features that define TAM-specific states, an insight a novel therapeutic anticancer approach is used to discover.

Perfusion Window Chambers Enable Interventional Analyses of Tumor Microenvironments.

Intravital microscopy (IVM) allows spatial and temporal imaging of different cell types in intact live tissue microenvironments. IVM has played a critical role in understanding cancer biology, invasion, metastases, and drug development. One considerable impediment to the field is the inability to interrogate the tumor microenvironment and its communication cascades during disease progression and therapeutic interventions. Here, a new implantable perfusion window chamber (PWC) is described that allows high-fidelity in vivo microscopy, local administration of stains and drugs, and longitudinal sampling of tumor interstitial fluid. This study shows that the new PWC design allows cyclic multiplexed imaging in vivo, imaging of drug action, and sampling of tumor-shed materials. The PWC will be broadly useful as a novel perturbable in vivo system for deciphering biology in complex microenvironments.

Highly Active Myeloid Therapy for Cancer.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) interact with cancer and stromal cells and are integral to sustaining many cancer-promoting features. Therapeutic manipulation of TAM could therefore improve clinical outcomes and synergize with immunotherapy and other cancer therapies. While different nanocarriers have been used to target TAM, a knowledge gap exists on which TAM pathways to target and what payloads to deliver for optimal antitumor effects. We hypothesized that a multipart combination involving the Janus tyrosine kinase (JAK), noncanonical nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), and toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways could lead to a highly active myeloid therapy (HAMT). Thus, we devised a screen to determine drug combinations that yield maximum IL-12 production from myeloid cells to treat the otherwise highly immunosuppressive myeloid environments in tumors. Here we show the extraordinary efficacy of a triple small-molecule combination in a TAM-targeted nanoparticle for eradicating murine tumors, jumpstarting a highly efficient antitumor response by adopting a distinctive antitumor TAM phenotype and synergizing with other immunotherapies. The HAMT therapy represents a recently developed approach in immunotherapy and leads to durable responses in murine cancer models.

Hybrid LNP Prime Dendritic Cells for Nucleotide Delivery.

The efficient activation of professional antigen-presenting cells-such as dendritic cells (DC)-in tumors and lymph nodes is critical for the design of next-generation cancer vaccines and may be able to provide anti-tumor effects by itself through immune stimulation. The challenge is to stimulate these cells without causing excessive toxicity. It is hypothesized that a multi-pronged combinatorial approach to DC stimulation would allow dose reductions of innate immune receptor-stimulating TLR3 agonists while enhancing drug efficacy. Here, a hybrid lipid nanoparticle (LNP) platform is developed and tested for double-stranded RNA (polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid for TLR3 agonism) and immune modulator (L-CANDI) delivery. This study shows that the ≈120 nm hybrid nanoparticles-in-nanoparticles effectively eradicate tumors by themselves and generate long-lasting, durable anti-tumor immunity in mouse models.

Dual TLR9 and PD-L1 targeting unleashes dendritic cells to induce durable antitumor immunity.

BACKGROUND: Although immune checkpoint inhibitors have been a breakthrough in clinical oncology, these therapies fail to produce durable responses in a significant fraction of patients. This lack of long-term efficacy may be due to a poor pre-existing network linking innate and adaptive immunity. Here, we present an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)-based strategy that dually targets toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), aiming to overcome resistance to anti-PD-L1 monoclonal therapy. METHODS: We designed a high-affinity immunomodulatory IM-TLR9:PD-L1-ASO antisense oligonucleotide (hereafter, IM-T9P1-ASO) targeting mouse PD-L1 messenger RNA and activating TLR9. Then, we performed in vitro and in vivo studies to validate the IM-T9P1-ASO activity, efficacy, and biological effects in tumors and draining lymph nodes. We also performed intravital imaging to study IM-T9P1-ASO pharmacokinetics in the tumor. RESULTS: IM-T9P1-ASO therapy, unlike PD-L1 antibody therapy, results in durable antitumor responses in multiple mouse cancer models. Mechanistically, IM-T9P1-ASO activates a state of tumor-associated dendritic cells (DCs), referred to here as DC3s, which have potent antitumor potential but express the PD-L1 checkpoint. IM-T9P1-ASO has two roles: it triggers the expansion of DC3s by engaging with TLR9 and downregulates PD-L1, thereby unleashing the antitumor functions of DC3s. This dual action leads to tumor rejection by T cells. The antitumor efficacy of IM-T9P1-ASO depends on the antitumor cytokine interleukin-12 (IL-12), produced by DC3s, and Batf3, a transcription factor required for DC development. CONCLUSIONS: By simultaneously targeting TLR9 and PD-L1, IM-T9P1-ASO amplifies antitumor responses via DC activation, leading to sustained therapeutic efficacy in mice. By highlighting differences and similarities between mouse and human DCs, this study could serve to develop similar therapeutic strategies for patients with cancer.

Monocytes re-enter the bone marrow during fasting and alter the host response to infection.

Diet profoundly influences physiology. Whereas over-nutrition elevates risk for disease via its influence on immunity and metabolism, caloric restriction and fasting appear to be salutogenic. Despite multiple correlations observed between diet and health, the underlying biology remains unclear. Here, we identified a fasting-induced switch in leukocyte migration that prolongs monocyte lifespan and alters susceptibility to disease in mice. We show that fasting during the active phase induced the rapid return of monocytes from the blood to the bone marrow. Monocyte re-entry was orchestrated by hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis-dependent release of corticosterone, which augmented the CXCR4 chemokine receptor. Although the marrow is a safe haven for monocytes during nutrient scarcity, re-feeding prompted mobilization culminating in monocytosis of chronologically older and transcriptionally distinct monocytes. These shifts altered response to infection. Our study shows that diet-in particular, a diet's temporal dynamic balance-modulates monocyte lifespan with consequences for adaptation to external stressors.

Dual Immunostimulatory Pathway Agonism through a Synthetic Nanocarrier Triggers Robust Anti-Tumor Immunity in Murine Glioblastoma.

Myeloid cells are abundant, create a highly immunosuppressive environment in glioblastoma (GBM), and thus contribute to poor immunotherapy responses. Based on the hypothesis that small molecules can be used to stimulate myeloid cells to elicit anti-tumor effector functions, a synthetic nanoparticle approach is developed to deliver dual NF-kB pathway-inducing agents into these cells via systemic administration. Synthetic, cyclodextrin-adjuvant nanoconstructs (CANDI) with high affinity for tumor-associated myeloid cells are dually loaded with a TLR7 and 8 (Toll-like receptor, 7 and 8) agonist (R848) and a cIAP (cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein) inhibitor (LCL-161) to dually activate these myeloid cells. Here CANDI is shown to: i) readily enter the GBM tumor microenvironment (TME) and accumulate at high concentrations, ii) is taken up by tumor-associated myeloid cells, iii) potently synergize payloads compared to monotherapy, iv) activate myeloid cells, v) fosters a "hot" TME with high levels of T effector cells, and vi) controls the growth of murine GBM as mono- and combination therapies with anti-PD1. Multi-pathway targeted myeloid stimulation via the CANDI platform can efficiently drive anti-tumor immunity in GBM.

Spatiotemporal multiplexed immunofluorescence imaging of living cells and tissues with bioorthogonal cycling of fluorescent probes.

Cells in complex organisms undergo frequent functional changes, but few methods allow comprehensive longitudinal profiling of living cells. Here we introduce scission-accelerated fluorophore exchange (SAFE), a method for multiplexed temporospatial imaging of living cells with immunofluorescence. SAFE uses a rapid bioorthogonal click chemistry to remove immunofluorescent signals from the surface of labeled cells, cycling the nanomolar-concentration reagents in seconds and enabling multiple rounds of staining of the same samples. It is non-toxic and functional in both dispersed cells and intact living tissues. We demonstrate multiparameter (n ≥ 14), non-disruptive imaging of murine peripheral blood mononuclear and bone marrow cells to profile cellular differentiation. We also show longitudinal multiplexed imaging of bone marrow progenitor cells as they develop into neutrophils over 6 days and real-time multiplexed cycling of living mouse hepatic tissues. We anticipate that SAFE will find broad utility for investigating physiologic dynamics in living systems.

In Vivo Click Chemistry Enables Multiplexed Intravital Microscopy.

The ability to observe cells in live organisms is essential for understanding their function in complex in vivo milieus. A major challenge today has been the limited ability to perform higher multiplexing beyond four to six colors to define cell subtypes in vivo. Here, a click chemistry-based strategy is presented for higher multiplexed in vivo imaging in mouse models. The method uses a scission-accelerated fluorophore exchange (SAFE), which exploits a highly efficient bioorthogonal mechanism to completely remove fluorescent signal from antibody-labeled cells in vivo. It is shown that the SAFE-intravital microscopy imaging method allows 1) in vivo staining of specific cell types in dorsal and cranial window chambers of mice, 2) complete un-staining in minutes, 3) in vivo click chemistries at lower (µm) and thus non-toxic concentrations, and 4) the ability to perform in vivo cyclic imaging. The potential utility of the method is demonstrated by 12 color imaging of immune cells in live mice.

Brain motor and fear circuits regulate leukocytes during acute stress.

The nervous and immune systems are intricately linked1. Although psychological stress is known to modulate immune function, mechanistic pathways linking stress networks in the brain to peripheral leukocytes remain poorly understood2. Here we show that distinct brain regions shape leukocyte distribution and function throughout the body during acute stress in mice. Using optogenetics and chemogenetics, we demonstrate that motor circuits induce rapid neutrophil mobilization from the bone marrow to peripheral tissues through skeletal-muscle-derived neutrophil-attracting chemokines. Conversely, the paraventricular hypothalamus controls monocyte and lymphocyte egress from secondary lymphoid organs and blood to the bone marrow through direct, cell-intrinsic glucocorticoid signalling. These stress-induced, counter-directional, population-wide leukocyte shifts are associated with altered disease susceptibility. On the one hand, acute stress changes innate immunity by reprogramming neutrophils and directing their recruitment to sites of injury. On the other hand, corticotropin-releasing hormone neuron-mediated leukocyte shifts protect against the acquisition of autoimmunity, but impair immunity to SARS-CoV-2 and influenza infection. Collectively, these data show that distinct brain regions differentially and rapidly tailor the leukocyte landscape during psychological stress, therefore calibrating the ability of the immune system to respond to physical threats.

Overcoming differential tumor penetration of BRAF inhibitors using computationally guided combination therapy.

BRAF-targeted kinase inhibitors (KIs) are used to treat malignancies including BRAF-mutant non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, anaplastic thyroid cancer, and, most prominently, melanoma. However, KI selection criteria in patients remain unclear, as are pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) mechanisms that may limit context-dependent efficacy and differentiate related drugs. To address this issue, we imaged mouse models of BRAF-mutant cancers, fluorescent KI tracers, and unlabeled drug to calibrate in silico spatial PK/PD models. Results indicated that drug lipophilicity, plasma clearance, faster target dissociation, and, in particular, high albumin binding could limit dabrafenib action in visceral metastases compared to other KIs. This correlated with retrospective clinical observations. Computational modeling identified a timed strategy for combining dabrafenib and encorafenib to better sustain BRAF inhibition, which showed enhanced efficacy in mice. This study thus offers principles of spatial drug action that may help guide drug development, KI selection, and combination.

Macrophage-Targeted Therapy Unlocks Antitumoral Cross-talk between IFNγ-Secreting Lymphocytes and IL12-Producing Dendritic Cells.

Macrophages often abound within tumors, express colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R), and are linked to adverse patient survival. Drugs blocking CSF1R signaling have been used to suppress tumor-promoting macrophage responses; however, their mechanisms of action remain incompletely understood. Here, we assessed the lung tumor immune microenvironment in mice treated with BLZ945, a prototypical small-molecule CSF1R inhibitor, using single-cell RNA sequencing and mechanistic validation approaches. We showed that tumor control was not caused by CSF1R+ cell depletion; instead, CSF1R targeting reshaped the CSF1R+ cell landscape, which unlocked cross-talk between antitumoral CSF1R- cells. These cells included IFNγ-producing natural killer and T cells, and an IL12-producing dendritic cell subset, denoted as DC3, which were all necessary for CSF1R inhibitor-mediated lung tumor control. These data indicate that CSF1R targeting can activate a cardinal cross-talk between cells that are not macrophages and that are essential to mediate the effects of T cell-targeted immunotherapies and promote antitumor immunity.See related Spotlight by Burrello and de Visser, p. 4.

Resident Kupffer cells and neutrophils drive liver toxicity in cancer immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy is revolutionizing cancer treatment but is often restricted by toxicities. What distinguishes adverse events from concomitant antitumor reactions is poorly understood. Here, using anti-CD40 treatment in mice as a model of TH1-promoting immunotherapy, we showed that liver macrophages promoted local immune-related adverse events. Mechanistically, tissue-resident Kupffer cells mediated liver toxicity by sensing lymphocyte-derived IFN-γ and subsequently producing IL-12. Conversely, dendritic cells were dispensable for toxicity but drove tumor control. IL-12 and IFN-γ were not toxic themselves but prompted a neutrophil response that determined the severity of tissue damage. We observed activation of similar inflammatory pathways after anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapies in mice and humans. These findings implicated macrophages and neutrophils as mediators and effectors of aberrant inflammation in TH1-promoting immunotherapy, suggesting distinct mechanisms of toxicity and antitumor immunity.

SMALL MOLECULE IMAGING AGENT FOR MUTANT KRAS G12C.

Multiple potent covalent inhibitors for mutant KRAS G12C have been described and some are in clinical trials. These small molecule inhibitors potentially allow for companion imaging probe development, thereby expanding the chemical biology toolkit to investigate mutant KRAS biology. Herein, we synthesized and tested a series of fluorescent companion imaging drugs (CID) for KRAS G12C, using two scaffolds, ARS-1323 and AMG-510. We created four fluorescent derivatives of each by attaching BODIPY dyes. We found that two fluorescent derivatives (BODIPY FL and BODIPY TMR) of ARS-1323 bind mutant KRAS and can be used for biochemical binding screens. Unfortunately, these drugs could not be used as direct imaging agents in cells, likely because of non-specific membrane labeling. To circumvent this challenge, we then used a two step procedure in cancer cells where an ARS-1323 alkyne is used for target binding followed by fluorescence imaging after in situ click chemsitry with picolyl azide Alexa Fluor 647. We show that this approach can be used to image mutant KRAS G12C directly in cells. Given the current lack of mutant KRAS G12C specific antibodies, these reagents could be useful for specific fluorescence imaging.

Therapeutically reprogrammed nutrient signalling enhances nanoparticulate albumin bound drug uptake and efficacy in KRAS-mutant cancer.

Nanoparticulate albumin bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel, nab-PTX) is among the most widely prescribed nanomedicines in clinical use, yet it remains unclear how nanoformulation affects nab-PTX behaviour in the tumour microenvironment. Here, we quantified the biodistribution of the albumin carrier and its chemotherapeutic payload in optically cleared tumours of genetically engineered mouse models, and compared the behaviour of nab-PTX with other clinically relevant nanoparticles. We found that nab-PTX uptake is profoundly and distinctly affected by cancer-cell autonomous RAS signalling, and RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK inhibition blocked its selective delivery and efficacy. In contrast, a targeted screen revealed that IGF1R kinase inhibitors enhance uptake and efficacy of nab-PTX by mimicking glucose deprivation and promoting macropinocytosis via AMPK, a nutrient sensor in cells. This study thus shows how nanoparticulate albumin bound drug efficacy can be therapeutically improved by reprogramming nutrient signalling and enhancing macropinocytosis in cancer cells.

Macrophage calcium reporter mice reveal immune cell communication in vitro and in vivo.

Cell communication underlies emergent functions in diverse cell types and tissues. Recent evidence suggests that macrophages are organized in communicating networks, but new tools are needed to quantitatively characterize the resulting cellular conversations. Here, we infer cell communication from spatiotemporal correlations of intracellular calcium dynamics that are non-destructively imaged across cell populations expressing genetically encoded calcium indicators. We describe a hematopoietic calcium reporter mouse (Csf1rCreGCaMP5fl) and a computational analysis pipeline for inferring communication between reporter cells based on "excess synchrony." We observed signals suggestive of cell communication in macrophages treated with immune-stimulatory DNA in vitro and tumor-associated immune cells imaged in a dorsal window chamber model in vivo. Together, the methods described here expand the toolkit for discovery of cell communication events in macrophages and other immune cells.

Detecting Immune Response to Therapies Targeting PDL1 and BRAF by Using Ferumoxytol MRI and Macrin in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer.

Background Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is aggressive with a poor prognosis, partly because of the immunosuppressive microenvironment created by tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Purpose To understand the relationship between TAM infiltration, tumor vascularization, and corresponding drug delivery by using ferumoxytol-enhanced MRI and macrin in an ATC mouse model. Materials and Methods ATC tumors were generated in 6-8-week-old female B6129SF1/J mice through intrathyroid injection to model orthotopic tumors, or intravenously to model hematogenous metastasis, and prospectively enrolled randomly into treatment cohorts (n = 94 total; August 1, 2018, to January 15, 2020). Mice were treated with vehicle or combined serine/threonine-protein kinase B-Raf (BRAF) kinase inhibitor (BRAFi) and anti-PDL1 antibody (aPDL1). A subset was cotreated with therapies, including an approximately 70-nm model drug delivery nanoparticle (DDNP) to target TAM, and an antibody-neutralizing colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R). Imaging was performed at the macroscopic level with ferumoxytol-MRI and microscopically with macrin. Genetically engineered BrafV600E/WT p53-null allografts were used and complemented by a GFP-transgenic derivative and human xenografts. Tumor-bearing organs were processed by using tissue clearing and imaged with confocal microscopy and MRI. Two-tailed Wilcoxon tests were used for comparison (≥five per group). Results TAM levels were higher in orthotopic thyroid tumors compared with pulmonary metastatic lesions by 79% ± 23 (standard deviation; P < .001). These findings were concordant with ferumoxytol MRI, which showed 136% ± 88 higher uptake in thyroid lesions (P = .02) compared with lung lesions. BRAFi and aPDL1 combination therapy resulted in higher tumor DDNP delivery by 39% ± 14 in pulmonary lesions (P = .004). Compared with the untreated group, tumors following BRAFi, aPDL1, and CSF1R-blocking antibody combination therapy did not show greater levels of TAM or DDNP (P = .82). Conclusion In a mouse model of anaplastic thyroid cancer, ferumoxytol MRI showed 136% ± 88 greater uptake in orthotopic thyroid tumors compared with pulmonary lesions, which reflected high vascularization and greater tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) levels. Serine/threonine-protein kinase B-Raf inhibitor and anti-programmed death ligand 1 antibody elicited higher local TAM levels and 43% ± 20 greater therapeutic nanoparticle delivery but not higher vascularization in pulmonary tumors. © RSNA, 2020 Online supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Luker in this issue.

Receptor-Driven ERK Pulses Reconfigure MAPK Signaling and Enable Persistence of Drug-Adapted BRAF-Mutant Melanoma Cells.

Targeted inhibition of oncogenic pathways can be highly effective in halting the rapid growth of tumors but often leads to the emergence of slowly dividing persister cells, which constitute a reservoir for the selection of drug-resistant clones. In BRAFV600E melanomas, RAF and MEK inhibitors efficiently block oncogenic signaling, but persister cells emerge. Here, we show that persister cells escape drug-induced cell-cycle arrest via brief, sporadic ERK pulses generated by transmembrane receptors and growth factors operating in an autocrine/paracrine manner. Quantitative proteomics and computational modeling show that ERK pulsing is enabled by rewiring of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling: from an oncogenic BRAFV600E monomer-driven configuration that is drug sensitive to a receptor-driven configuration that involves Ras-GTP and RAF dimers and is highly resistant to RAF and MEK inhibitors. Altogether, this work shows that pulsatile MAPK activation by factors in the microenvironment generates a persistent population of melanoma cells that rewires MAPK signaling to sustain non-genetic drug resistance.