Highly immunogenic cancer cells require activation of the WNT pathway for immunological escape

Yoshiko Takeuchi, Tokiyoshi Tanegashima, Eiichi Sato, Takuma Irie, Atsuo Sai, Kota Itahashi, Shogo Kumagai, Yasuko Tada, Yosuke Togashi, Shohei Koyama,

Science Immunology · 2021 · 131 citations · 46 references

Concepts

Abstract

T cells from tumors in a WNT/β-catenin signaling-dependent manner. Combined treatment with PD-1 blockade and WNT/β-catenin signaling inhibitors induced better antitumor immunity than either treatment alone. Thus, we propose a mechanism-oriented combination therapy whereby immune checkpoint inhibitors can be combined with drugs that target cell-intrinsic oncogenic signaling pathways involved in tumor immune escape.

References

46