Intratumoral co‐injection of NK cells and NKG2A‐neutralizing monoclonal antibodies

Abstract NK‐cell reactivity against cancer is conceivably suppressed in the tumor microenvironment by the interaction of the inhibitory receptor NKG2A with the non‐classical MHC‐I molecules HLA‐E in humans or Qa‐1b in mice. We found that intratumoral delivery of NK cells attains significant therapeu...

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Main Authors: Ignacio Melero, Maria C Ochoa, Carmen Molina, Sandra Sanchez‐Gregorio, Saray Garasa, Carlos Luri‐Rey, Sandra Hervas‐Stubbs, Noelia Casares, Edurne Elizalde, Gabriel Gomis, Assunta Cirella, Pedro Berraondo, Alvaro Teijeira, Maite Alvarez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2023-10-01
Series:EMBO Molecular Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.202317804
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author Ignacio Melero
Maria C Ochoa
Carmen Molina
Sandra Sanchez‐Gregorio
Saray Garasa
Carlos Luri‐Rey
Sandra Hervas‐Stubbs
Noelia Casares
Edurne Elizalde
Gabriel Gomis
Assunta Cirella
Pedro Berraondo
Alvaro Teijeira
Maite Alvarez
author_facet Ignacio Melero
Maria C Ochoa
Carmen Molina
Sandra Sanchez‐Gregorio
Saray Garasa
Carlos Luri‐Rey
Sandra Hervas‐Stubbs
Noelia Casares
Edurne Elizalde
Gabriel Gomis
Assunta Cirella
Pedro Berraondo
Alvaro Teijeira
Maite Alvarez
author_sort Ignacio Melero
collection DOAJ
description Abstract NK‐cell reactivity against cancer is conceivably suppressed in the tumor microenvironment by the interaction of the inhibitory receptor NKG2A with the non‐classical MHC‐I molecules HLA‐E in humans or Qa‐1b in mice. We found that intratumoral delivery of NK cells attains significant therapeutic effects only if co‐injected with anti‐NKG2A and anti‐Qa‐1b blocking monoclonal antibodies against solid mouse tumor models. Such therapeutic activity was contingent on endogenous CD8 T cells and type‐1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1). Moreover, the anti‐tumor effects were enhanced upon combination with systemic anti‐PD‐1 mAb treatment and achieved partial abscopal efficacy against distant non‐injected tumors. In xenografted mice bearing HLA‐E‐expressing human cancer cells, intratumoral co‐injection of activated allogeneic human NK cells and clinical‐grade anti‐NKG2A mAb (monalizumab) synergistically achieved therapeutic effects. In conclusion, these studies provide evidence for the clinical potential of intratumoral NK cell‐based immunotherapies that exert their anti‐tumor efficacy as a result of eliciting endogenous T‐cell responses.
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spelling doaj-art-dad7d8e3e32044ab82bb7ccfc15b4a392025-08-20T04:02:55ZengSpringer NatureEMBO Molecular Medicine1757-46761757-46842023-10-01151111610.15252/emmm.202317804Intratumoral co‐injection of NK cells and NKG2A‐neutralizing monoclonal antibodiesIgnacio Melero0Maria C Ochoa1Carmen Molina2Sandra Sanchez‐Gregorio3Saray Garasa4Carlos Luri‐Rey5Sandra Hervas‐Stubbs6Noelia Casares7Edurne Elizalde8Gabriel Gomis9Assunta Cirella10Pedro Berraondo11Alvaro Teijeira12Maite Alvarez13Program for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de NavarraProgram for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de NavarraProgram for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de NavarraProgram for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de NavarraProgram for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de NavarraProgram for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de NavarraProgram for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de NavarraProgram for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de NavarraProgram for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de NavarraProgram for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de NavarraProgram for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de NavarraProgram for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de NavarraProgram for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de NavarraProgram for Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA, Universidad de NavarraAbstract NK‐cell reactivity against cancer is conceivably suppressed in the tumor microenvironment by the interaction of the inhibitory receptor NKG2A with the non‐classical MHC‐I molecules HLA‐E in humans or Qa‐1b in mice. We found that intratumoral delivery of NK cells attains significant therapeutic effects only if co‐injected with anti‐NKG2A and anti‐Qa‐1b blocking monoclonal antibodies against solid mouse tumor models. Such therapeutic activity was contingent on endogenous CD8 T cells and type‐1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1). Moreover, the anti‐tumor effects were enhanced upon combination with systemic anti‐PD‐1 mAb treatment and achieved partial abscopal efficacy against distant non‐injected tumors. In xenografted mice bearing HLA‐E‐expressing human cancer cells, intratumoral co‐injection of activated allogeneic human NK cells and clinical‐grade anti‐NKG2A mAb (monalizumab) synergistically achieved therapeutic effects. In conclusion, these studies provide evidence for the clinical potential of intratumoral NK cell‐based immunotherapies that exert their anti‐tumor efficacy as a result of eliciting endogenous T‐cell responses.https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.202317804HLA‐Eintratumoral immunotherapyNKNKG2AQa‐1b
spellingShingle Ignacio Melero
Maria C Ochoa
Carmen Molina
Sandra Sanchez‐Gregorio
Saray Garasa
Carlos Luri‐Rey
Sandra Hervas‐Stubbs
Noelia Casares
Edurne Elizalde
Gabriel Gomis
Assunta Cirella
Pedro Berraondo
Alvaro Teijeira
Maite Alvarez
Intratumoral co‐injection of NK cells and NKG2A‐neutralizing monoclonal antibodies
EMBO Molecular Medicine
HLA‐E
intratumoral immunotherapy
NK
NKG2A
Qa‐1b
title Intratumoral co‐injection of NK cells and NKG2A‐neutralizing monoclonal antibodies
title_full Intratumoral co‐injection of NK cells and NKG2A‐neutralizing monoclonal antibodies
title_fullStr Intratumoral co‐injection of NK cells and NKG2A‐neutralizing monoclonal antibodies
title_full_unstemmed Intratumoral co‐injection of NK cells and NKG2A‐neutralizing monoclonal antibodies
title_short Intratumoral co‐injection of NK cells and NKG2A‐neutralizing monoclonal antibodies
title_sort intratumoral co injection of nk cells and nkg2a neutralizing monoclonal antibodies
topic HLA‐E
intratumoral immunotherapy
NK
NKG2A
Qa‐1b
url https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.202317804
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