Tigilanol tiglate is an oncolytic small molecule that induces immunogenic cell death and enhances the response of both target and non-injected tumors to immune checkpoint blockade

Background Tigilanol tiglate (TT) is a protein kinase C (PKC)/C1 domain activator currently being developed as an intralesional agent for the treatment of various (sub)cutaneous malignancies. Previous work has shown that intratumoral (I.T.) injection of TT causes vascular disruption with concomitant...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kevin Hendrawan, Kelly M Brooks, Pei-Yi Yap, Blake Ferguson, Motoko Koyama, Herlina Handoko, Jenny Johns, Natasa Broit, Praphaporn Stewart, Daniel Shelley, Tracey McMahon, Yi Chieh Lim, Giovanni Appendino, Jason K Cullen, Zara C Bruce, Steven M Ogbourne, Paul W Reddell, Glen M Boyle, Peter G Parsons, Jacinta L Simmons, Emily S Wilson, Marjorie M A de Souza, Tam Hong Nguyen, Alberto Pagani, Victoria A Gordon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2024-04-01
Series:Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
Online Access:https://jitc.bmj.com/content/12/4/e006602.full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846168338024103936
author Kevin Hendrawan
Kelly M Brooks
Pei-Yi Yap
Blake Ferguson
Motoko Koyama
Herlina Handoko
Jenny Johns
Natasa Broit
Praphaporn Stewart
Daniel Shelley
Tracey McMahon
Yi Chieh Lim
Giovanni Appendino
Jason K Cullen
Zara C Bruce
Steven M Ogbourne
Paul W Reddell
Glen M Boyle
Peter G Parsons
Jacinta L Simmons
Emily S Wilson
Marjorie M A de Souza
Tam Hong Nguyen
Alberto Pagani
Victoria A Gordon
author_facet Kevin Hendrawan
Kelly M Brooks
Pei-Yi Yap
Blake Ferguson
Motoko Koyama
Herlina Handoko
Jenny Johns
Natasa Broit
Praphaporn Stewart
Daniel Shelley
Tracey McMahon
Yi Chieh Lim
Giovanni Appendino
Jason K Cullen
Zara C Bruce
Steven M Ogbourne
Paul W Reddell
Glen M Boyle
Peter G Parsons
Jacinta L Simmons
Emily S Wilson
Marjorie M A de Souza
Tam Hong Nguyen
Alberto Pagani
Victoria A Gordon
author_sort Kevin Hendrawan
collection DOAJ
description Background Tigilanol tiglate (TT) is a protein kinase C (PKC)/C1 domain activator currently being developed as an intralesional agent for the treatment of various (sub)cutaneous malignancies. Previous work has shown that intratumoral (I.T.) injection of TT causes vascular disruption with concomitant tumor ablation in several preclinical models of cancer, in addition to various (sub)cutaneous tumors presenting in the veterinary clinic. TT has completed Phase I dose escalation trials, with some patients showing signs of abscopal effects. However, the exact molecular details underpinning its mechanism of action (MoA), together with its immunotherapeutic potential in oncology remain unclear.Methods A combination of microscopy, luciferase assays, immunofluorescence, immunoblotting, subcellular fractionation, intracellular ATP assays, phagocytosis assays and mixed lymphocyte reactions were used to probe the MoA of TT in vitro. In vivo studies with TT used MM649 xenograft, CT-26 and immune checkpoint inhibitor refractory B16-F10-OVA tumor bearing mice, the latter with or without anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) mAb treatment. The effect of TT at injected and non-injected tumors was also assessed.Results Here, we show that TT induces the death of endothelial and cancer cells at therapeutically relevant concentrations via a caspase/gasdermin E-dependent pyroptopic pathway. At therapeutic doses, our data demonstrate that TT acts as a lipotoxin, binding to and promoting mitochondrial/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dysfunction (leading to unfolded protein responsemt/ER upregulation) with subsequent ATP depletion, organelle swelling, caspase activation, gasdermin E cleavage and induction of terminal necrosis. Consistent with binding to ER membranes, we found that TT treatment promoted activation of the integrated stress response together with the release/externalization of damage-associated molecular patterns (HMGB1, ATP, calreticulin) from cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, characteristics indicative of immunogenic cell death (ICD). Confirmation of ICD in vivo was obtained through vaccination and rechallenge experiments using CT-26 colon carcinoma tumor bearing mice. Furthermore, TT also reduced tumor volume, induced immune cell infiltration, as well as improved survival in B16-F10-OVA tumor bearing mice when combined with immune checkpoint blockade.Conclusions These data demonstrate that TT is an oncolytic small molecule with multiple targets and confirms that cell death induced by this compound has the potential to augment antitumor responses to immunotherapy.
format Article
id doaj-art-756c2bca74d94c10bc6e590de097d302
institution Kabale University
issn 2051-1426
language English
publishDate 2024-04-01
publisher BMJ Publishing Group
record_format Article
series Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
spelling doaj-art-756c2bca74d94c10bc6e590de097d3022024-11-14T01:40:07ZengBMJ Publishing GroupJournal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer2051-14262024-04-0112410.1136/jitc-2022-006602Tigilanol tiglate is an oncolytic small molecule that induces immunogenic cell death and enhances the response of both target and non-injected tumors to immune checkpoint blockadeKevin Hendrawan0Kelly M Brooks1Pei-Yi Yap2Blake Ferguson3Motoko Koyama4Herlina Handoko5Jenny Johns6Natasa Broit7Praphaporn Stewart8Daniel Shelley9Tracey McMahon10Yi Chieh Lim11Giovanni Appendino12Jason K Cullen13Zara C Bruce14Steven M Ogbourne15Paul W Reddell16Glen M Boyle17Peter G Parsons18Jacinta L Simmons19Emily S Wilson20Marjorie M A de Souza21Tam Hong Nguyen22Alberto Pagani23Victoria A Gordon24QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, AustraliaQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, AustraliaQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, AustraliaQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, AustraliaQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, AustraliaQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, AustraliaQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, AustraliaQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, AustraliaUniversity of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland, AustraliaUniversity of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland, AustraliaUniversity of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland, AustraliaDanish Cancer Society Research Centre, Copenhagen DK, DenmarkDipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università Degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, ItalyQBiotics Group Limited, Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, AustraliaQBiotics Group Limited, Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaQBiotics Group Limited, Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, AustraliaQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, AustraliaQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, AustraliaQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, AustraliaQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, AustraliaQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, AustraliaDipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università Degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, ItalyQBiotics Group Limited, Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaBackground Tigilanol tiglate (TT) is a protein kinase C (PKC)/C1 domain activator currently being developed as an intralesional agent for the treatment of various (sub)cutaneous malignancies. Previous work has shown that intratumoral (I.T.) injection of TT causes vascular disruption with concomitant tumor ablation in several preclinical models of cancer, in addition to various (sub)cutaneous tumors presenting in the veterinary clinic. TT has completed Phase I dose escalation trials, with some patients showing signs of abscopal effects. However, the exact molecular details underpinning its mechanism of action (MoA), together with its immunotherapeutic potential in oncology remain unclear.Methods A combination of microscopy, luciferase assays, immunofluorescence, immunoblotting, subcellular fractionation, intracellular ATP assays, phagocytosis assays and mixed lymphocyte reactions were used to probe the MoA of TT in vitro. In vivo studies with TT used MM649 xenograft, CT-26 and immune checkpoint inhibitor refractory B16-F10-OVA tumor bearing mice, the latter with or without anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) mAb treatment. The effect of TT at injected and non-injected tumors was also assessed.Results Here, we show that TT induces the death of endothelial and cancer cells at therapeutically relevant concentrations via a caspase/gasdermin E-dependent pyroptopic pathway. At therapeutic doses, our data demonstrate that TT acts as a lipotoxin, binding to and promoting mitochondrial/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dysfunction (leading to unfolded protein responsemt/ER upregulation) with subsequent ATP depletion, organelle swelling, caspase activation, gasdermin E cleavage and induction of terminal necrosis. Consistent with binding to ER membranes, we found that TT treatment promoted activation of the integrated stress response together with the release/externalization of damage-associated molecular patterns (HMGB1, ATP, calreticulin) from cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, characteristics indicative of immunogenic cell death (ICD). Confirmation of ICD in vivo was obtained through vaccination and rechallenge experiments using CT-26 colon carcinoma tumor bearing mice. Furthermore, TT also reduced tumor volume, induced immune cell infiltration, as well as improved survival in B16-F10-OVA tumor bearing mice when combined with immune checkpoint blockade.Conclusions These data demonstrate that TT is an oncolytic small molecule with multiple targets and confirms that cell death induced by this compound has the potential to augment antitumor responses to immunotherapy.https://jitc.bmj.com/content/12/4/e006602.full
spellingShingle Kevin Hendrawan
Kelly M Brooks
Pei-Yi Yap
Blake Ferguson
Motoko Koyama
Herlina Handoko
Jenny Johns
Natasa Broit
Praphaporn Stewart
Daniel Shelley
Tracey McMahon
Yi Chieh Lim
Giovanni Appendino
Jason K Cullen
Zara C Bruce
Steven M Ogbourne
Paul W Reddell
Glen M Boyle
Peter G Parsons
Jacinta L Simmons
Emily S Wilson
Marjorie M A de Souza
Tam Hong Nguyen
Alberto Pagani
Victoria A Gordon
Tigilanol tiglate is an oncolytic small molecule that induces immunogenic cell death and enhances the response of both target and non-injected tumors to immune checkpoint blockade
Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
title Tigilanol tiglate is an oncolytic small molecule that induces immunogenic cell death and enhances the response of both target and non-injected tumors to immune checkpoint blockade
title_full Tigilanol tiglate is an oncolytic small molecule that induces immunogenic cell death and enhances the response of both target and non-injected tumors to immune checkpoint blockade
title_fullStr Tigilanol tiglate is an oncolytic small molecule that induces immunogenic cell death and enhances the response of both target and non-injected tumors to immune checkpoint blockade
title_full_unstemmed Tigilanol tiglate is an oncolytic small molecule that induces immunogenic cell death and enhances the response of both target and non-injected tumors to immune checkpoint blockade
title_short Tigilanol tiglate is an oncolytic small molecule that induces immunogenic cell death and enhances the response of both target and non-injected tumors to immune checkpoint blockade
title_sort tigilanol tiglate is an oncolytic small molecule that induces immunogenic cell death and enhances the response of both target and non injected tumors to immune checkpoint blockade
url https://jitc.bmj.com/content/12/4/e006602.full
work_keys_str_mv AT kevinhendrawan tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT kellymbrooks tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT peiyiyap tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT blakeferguson tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT motokokoyama tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT herlinahandoko tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT jennyjohns tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT natasabroit tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT praphapornstewart tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT danielshelley tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT traceymcmahon tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT yichiehlim tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT giovanniappendino tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT jasonkcullen tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT zaracbruce tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT stevenmogbourne tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT paulwreddell tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT glenmboyle tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT petergparsons tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT jacintalsimmons tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT emilyswilson tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT marjoriemadesouza tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT tamhongnguyen tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT albertopagani tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade
AT victoriaagordon tigilanoltiglateisanoncolyticsmallmoleculethatinducesimmunogeniccelldeathandenhancestheresponseofbothtargetandnoninjectedtumorstoimmunecheckpointblockade