Abstract
Background: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) represent a prognostic factor for survival in primary breast cancer (BC). Nonetheless, neoepitope load and TILs cytolytic activity are modest in BC, compromising the efficacy of immune-activating antibodies, which do not yet compete against immunogenic chemotherapy. Patients and methods: We analyzed by functional flow cytometry the immune dynamics of primary and metastatic axillary nodes [metastatic lymph nodes (mLN)] in early BC (EBC) after exposure to T-cell bispecific antibodies (TCB) bridging CD3ϵ and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) or Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Related Cell Adhesion Molecule 5 (CEACAM5), before and after chemotherapy. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I loss was assessed by whole exome sequencing and immunohistochemistry. One hundred primary BC, 64 surrounding 'healthy tissue' and 24 mLN-related parameters were analyzed. Results: HLA loss of heterozygosity was observed in EBC, at a clonal and subclonal level and was associated with regulatory T cells and T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain-3 expression restraining the immuno-stimulatory effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. TCB bridging CD3ϵ and HER2 or CEACAM5 could bypass major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I loss, partially rescuing T-cell functions in mLN. Conclusion: TCB should be developed in BC to circumvent low MHC/peptide complexes.
Original language | English |
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Article number | mdz112 |
Pages (from-to) | 934-944 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Annals of Oncology |
Volume | 30 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jun 2019 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- breast cancer
- CEACAM5
- HER2
- HLA loss
- T-cell bispecific antibodies (TCB)
- tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs)