Data from Cyclophosphamide Synergizes with Type I Interferons through Systemic Dendritic Cell Reactivation and Induction of Immunogenic Tumor Apoptosis

Abstract

<div>Abstract<p>Successful chemotherapy accounts for both tumor-related factors and host immune response. Compelling evidence suggests that some chemotherapeutic agents can induce an immunogenic type of cell death stimulating tumor-specific immunity. Here, we show that cyclophosphamide (CTX) exerts two types of actions relevant for the induction of antitumor immunity <i>in vivo</i>: (i) effect on dendritic cell (DC) homeostasis, mediated by endogenous type I interferons (IFN-I), leading to the preferential expansion of CD8α<sup>+</sup> DC, the main subset involved in the cross-presentation of cell-derived antigens; and (ii) induction of tumor cell death with clear-cut immunogenic features capable of stimulating tumor infiltration, engulfment of tumor apoptotic material, and CD8 T-cell cross-priming by CD8α<sup>+</sup> DC. Notably, the antitumor effects of CTX were efficiently amplified by IFN-I, the former providing a source of antigen and a “resetting” of the DC compartment and the latter supplying optimal costimulation for T-cell cross-priming, resulting in the induction of a strong antitumor response and tumor rejection. These results disclose new perspectives for the development of targeted and more effective chemoimmunotherapy treatments of cancer patients. <i>Cancer Res; 71(3); 768–78. ©2010 AACR</i>.</p></div>