Inhibition of ITGB6 stimulates potent anti-tumor responses in immunocompetent mouse models of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

ABSTRACT: ITGB6, the gene encoding the β6 subunit of integrin αvβ6, is a potent prognostic marker across multiple cancer types. As a major activator of latent TGFβ and a potent modulator of the tumor immune environment, αvβ6, and consequently, ITGB6, has considerable therapeutic implications. ITGB6 is highly upregulated in squamous cell carcinomas and pancreatic adenocarcinomas, where it disrupts tumor-immune cell signaling. We identify ITGB6 as a potent clinical prognostic marker of anti-tumor immune response and were able to recapitulate the immune-mediated anti-tumor effect of ITGB6 in pre-clinical mouse models. Genetic knockout of ITGB6 in heterotopically-injected head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines shows marked

SUBMITTER: MacDonald WJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12789914 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature