The TLR7/8 agonist R848 remodels tumor and host responses to promote survival in pancreatic cancer

Nat Commun. 2019 Oct 15;10(1):4682. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-12657-w.

Abstract

A priority in cancer research is to innovate therapies that are not only effective against tumor progression but also address comorbidities such as cachexia that limit quality and quantity of life. We demonstrate that TLR7/8 agonist R848 induces anti-tumor responses and attenuates cachexia in murine models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In vivo, tumors from two of three cell lines were R848-sensitive, resulting in smaller tumor mass, increased immune complexity, increased CD8+ T-cell infiltration and activity, and decreased Treg frequency. R848-treated mice demonstrated improvements in behavioral and molecular cachexia manifestations, resulting in a near-doubling of survival duration. Knockout mouse studies revealed that stromal, not neoplastic, TLR7 is requisite for R848-mediated responses. In patient samples, we found Tlr7 is ubiquitously expressed in stroma across all stages of pancreatic neoplasia, but epithelial Tlr7 expression is relatively uncommon. These studies indicate immune-enhancing approaches including R848 may be useful in PDAC and cancer-associated cachexia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cachexia*
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / immunology
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Eating / drug effects
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology*
  • Locomotion / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Pancreatic Intraductal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Pancreatic Intraductal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / immunology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Survival Rate
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7 / agonists
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7 / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptor 8 / agonists
  • Tumor Burden
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects*
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology

Substances

  • Imidazoles
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7
  • Toll-Like Receptor 8
  • resiquimod