Abstract
Purpose:
Brain metastases are associated with high morbidity and are often resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors. We evaluated whether CDK4/6 inhibitor (CDKi) abemaciclib can sensitize intracranial tumors to programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibition in mouse models of melanoma and breast cancer brain metastasis.
Experimental design:
Treatment response was evaluated in vivo using immunocompetent mouse models of brain metastasis bearing concurrent intracranial and extracranial tumors. Treatment effect on intracranial and extracranial tumor-immune microenvironments (TIME) was evaluated using immunofluorescence, multiplex immunoassays, high-parameter flow cytometry, and T-cell receptor profiling. Mice with humanized immune systems were evaluated using flow cytometry to study the effect of CDKi on human T-cell development.
Results:
We found that combining abemaciclib with PD-1 inhibition reduced tumor burden and improved overall survival in mice. The TIME, which differed on the basis of anatomic location of tumors, was altered with CDKi and PD-1 inhibition in an organ-specific manner. Combination abemaciclib and anti-PD-1 treatment increased recruitment and expansion of CD8+ effector T-cell subsets, depleted CD4+ regulatory T (Treg) cells, and reduced levels of immunosuppressive cytokines in intracranial tumors. In immunodeficient mice engrafted with human immune systems, abemaciclib treatment supported development and maintenance of CD8+ T cells and depleted Treg cells.
Conclusions:
Our results highlight the distinct properties of intracranial and extracranial tumors and support clinical investigation of combination CDK4/6 and PD-1 inhibition in patients with brain metastases. See related commentary by Margolin, p. 257.