Cancer Immunol Res. 2022 Sep 12. pii: CIR-21-1075. [Epub ahead of print]
Alfonso R Sanchez-Paulete,
Jaime Mateus-Tique,
Gurkan Mollaoglu,
Sebastian R Nielsen,
Adam Marks,
Ashwitha Lakshmi,
Jalal A Khan,
C Matthias Wilk,
Luisanna Pia,
Alessia Baccarini,
Miriam Merad,
Brian D Brown.
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are one of the most abundant cell types in many solid tumors and typically exert protumor effects. This has led to an interest in macrophage-depleting agents for cancer therapy, but approaches developed to date have had limited success in clinical trials. Here, we report the development of a strategy for TAM depletion in mouse solid tumor models using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells targeting the macrophage marker F4/80 (F4.CAR-T). F4.CAR-T cells effectively killed macrophages in vitro and in vivo without toxicity. When injected into mice bearing orthotopic lung tumors, F4.CAR-T cells infiltrated tumor lesions and delayed tumor growth comparably to PD-1 blockade, and significantly extended mouse survival. Anti-tumor effects were mediated by F4.CAR-T-produced IFN-γ, which promoted upregulation of MHC molecules on cancer cells and tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells. Notably, F4.CAR-T promoted expansion of endogenous CD8 T cells specific for tumor-associated antigen and led to immune editing of highly antigenic tumor cell clones. Antitumor impact was also observed in mouse models of ovarian and pancreatic cancer. These studies provide proof-of-principle to support CAR T cell targeting of TAMs as a means to enhance antitumor immunity.