Invited Speaker Presentation Eradicate Cancer 2020

A tumour-specific survival switch in regulatory T cells  (70272)

Clare Weeden 1 2 , Tianwei Chan 1 2 , Charis Teh 1 2 , Phillip Antippa 3 , Marie-Liesse Asselin-Labat 1 2 , Daniel H.D. Gray 1 2
  1. The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
  2. Department of Medical Biology, Australia, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia
  3. The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia

Tumours subvert the host immune system to enable their growth and thwart immunotherapy. A key mechanism employed by many advanced tumours involves the recruitment of immunosuppressive FOXP3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells that restrain anti-cancer responses. Specifically targeting tumour Treg cells is a major goal in immunotherapy. Using deep profiling of lung adenocarcinoma for immune and cell survival characteristics by CyTOF, we found “re-wiring” of cell death mechanisms specifically in Treg cells infiltrating tumours. This Treg cell survival switch was also observed in other tumour classes and mouse models of lung adenocarcinoma. In tumour-bearing mice, targeting the pro-survival characteristics of tumour-Treg cells with a BH3 mimetic drug in combination with anti-PD1 checkpoint blockade prolonged survival. These data uncover a conserved cell survival switch in tumour-infiltrating Treg cells that may be exploited to enhance response to immunotherapy.