Abstract 6442: Role of TWEAK-Fn14 axis in driving immunosuppression in glioblastoma multiforme

Abstract

Abstract Cellular heterogeneity within glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a key driver of resistance to standard-of-care therapeutic approaches such as DNA damage (temozolomide, TMZ), angiogenesis inhibition (Bevacizumab, BM), radiation necrosis, and surgical resection. As such, understanding and targeting heterogeneous tumor-associated populations is a critical aim of ongoing GBM research. Central nervous system (CNS) resident microglia constitute significant percentages of primary GBM samples, often up to 50% of bulk tumor. Additionally, glioblastoma-associated microglia have been implicated in intra-tumoral immunosuppression, and are thus a key barrier to successful implementation of immunotherapies that seek to enhance T-cell mediated anti-tumoral cytotoxicity. As such, insight into targetable pathways that upregulate immunosuppressive cytokines within GBM-associated microglia is necessary for overcoming immuno-therapeutic failure. Here, we identify expression of the cytokine TWEAK (TNFSF12) and its receptor Fn14 (TNFRSF12A) within the myeloid compartment of primary GBM samples via scRNA-seq. Furthermore, we demonstrate TWEAK-mediated reprogramming of GBM-associated microglia towards an immunosuppressive phenotype capable of inhibiting CD8+ T cell activation and proliferation. These findings unveil a potent, targetable axis of immunosuppression within GBM and are thus an exciting step towards enhancing efficacy of existing T-cell based anti-cancer strategies for GBM patients. Citation Format: Angad Beniwal, Ryan Eghlimi, Kenneth D. Alexander, Mylan R. Blomquist, Nhan Tran. Role of TWEAK-Fn14 axis in driving immunosuppression in glioblastoma multiforme [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 6442.