Comparing neoantigen cancer vaccines and immune checkpoint therapy unveils an effective vaccine and anti-TREM2 macrophage-targeting dual therapy.

ABSTRACT: The goal of therapeutic cancer vaccines and immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) is to promote T cells with anti-tumor capabilities. Here, we compared mutant neoantigen (neoAg) peptide-based vaccines with ICT in preclinical models. NeoAg vaccines induce the most robust expansion of proliferating and stem-like PD-1⁺TCF-1⁺ neoAg-specific CD8 T cells in tumors. Anti-CTLA-4 and/or anti-PD-1 ICT promotes intratumoral TCF-1^- neoAg-specific CD8 T cells, although their phenotype depends in part on the specific ICT used. Anti-CTLA-4 also prompts substantial changes to CD4 T cells, including induction of ICOS⁺Bhlhe40⁺ T helper 1 (Th1)-like cells. Although neoAg vaccines or ICTs expand iNOS⁺ macrophages, neoAg vaccines maintain CX3CR1⁺

SUBMITTER: Keshari S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11785356 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature