Department of Biotechnology
inStem (Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine)

Normalizing the Microenvironment Overcomes Vessel Compression and Resistance to Nano-immunotherapy in Breast Cancer Lung Metastasis.

Publication Type

Journal Article

Date of Publication

February 1, 2021

Journal

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)

Volume/Issue

8/3

ISSN

2198-3844

Nano-immunotherapy regimens have high potential to improve patient outcomes, as already demonstrated in advanced triple negative breast cancer with nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel and the immune checkpoint blocker (ICB) atezolizumab. This regimen, however, does not lead to cures with median survival lasting less than two years. Thus, understanding the mechanisms of resistance to and development of strategies to enhance nano-immunotherapy in breast cancer are urgently needed. Here, in human tissue it is shown that blood vessels in breast cancer lung metastases are compressed leading to hypoxia. This pathophysiology exists in murine spontaneous models of triple negative breast cancer lung metastases, along with low levels of perfusion. Because this pathophysiology is consistent with elevated levels of solid stress, the mechanotherapeutic tranilast, which decompressed lung metastasis vessels, is administered to mice bearing metastases, thereby restoring perfusion and alleviating hypoxia. As a result, the nanomedicine Doxil causes cytotoxic effects into metastases more efficiently, stimulating anti-tumor immunity. Indeed, when combining tranilast with Doxil and ICBs, synergistic effects on efficacy, with all mice cured in one of the two ICB-insensitive tumor models investigated is resulted. These results suggest that strategies to treat breast cancer with nano-immunotherapy should also include a mechanotherapeutic to decompress vessels.

Alternate Journal

Adv Sci (Weinh)

PubMed ID

33552852

PubMed Central ID

PMC7856901

Authors

Fotios Mpekris
Myrofora Panagi
Chrysovalantis Voutouri
John D Martin
Rekha Samuel
Shinichiro Takahashi
Naoto Gotohda
Toshiyuki Suzuki
Panagiotis Papageorgis
Philippos Demetriou
Chryso Pierides
Laura Koumas
Paul Costeas
Motohiro Kojima
Genichiro Ishii
Anastasia Constantinidou
Kazunori Kataoka
Horacio Cabral
Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos