Targeting CCR8 Induces Protective Antitumor Immunity and Enhances Vaccine-Induced Responses in Colon Cancer

Abstract

CCR8 is a chemokine receptor expressed principally on regulatory T cells (Treg) and is known to be critical for CCR8⁺ Treg-mediated immunosuppression. Recent studies have demonstrated that CCR8 is uniquely upregulated in human tumor-resident Tregs of patients with breast, colon, and lung cancer when compared with normal tissue-resident Tregs. Therefore, CCR8⁺ tumor-resident Tregs are rational targets for cancer immunotherapy. Here, we demonstrate that mAb therapy targeting CCR8 significantly suppresses tumor growth and improves long-term survival in colorectal tumor mouse models. This antitumor activity correlated with increased tumor-specific T cells, enhanced infiltration of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, and a significant decrease in the frequency of tumor-resident CD4⁺CCR8⁺ Tregs. Tumor-specific CD8⁺ T cells displayed lower expression of exhaustion markers as well as increased functionality upon restimulation. Treatment with anti-CCR8 mAb prevented <i>de novo</i> induction and suppressive function of Tregs without affecting CD8⁺ T cells. Initial studies explored a combinatorial regimen using anti-CCR8 mAb therapy and a <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>-based immunotherapy. Anti-CCR8 mAb therapy synergized with <i>L. monocytogenes</i>-based immunotherapy to significantly delay growth of established tumors and to prolong survival. Collectively, these findings identify CCR8 as a promising new target for tumor immunotherapy and provide a strong rationale for further development of this approach, either as a monotherapy or in combination with other immunotherapies.<b>Significance:</b> Inhibition of CCR8 represents a promising new cancer immunotherapy strategy that modulates tumor-resident regulatory T cells to enhance antitumor immunity and prolong patient survival. <i>Cancer Res; 78(18); 5340-8. ©2018 AACR</i>.