Using single-cell RNAseq, Grauel et al. identified four phenotypically and functionally distinct subsets of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs): inflammatory (iCAFs), canonical myofibroblasts (myCAFs), VEGF+ (vCAFs), and proliferating (prCAFs). A TGFβ-blocking antibody showed a moderate effect on 4T1 tumor progression; decreased collagen deposition, reticulated fibers, and myCAFs; generated unique interferon-licensed CAFs (ilCAFs) with immunomodulatory potential; and increased T cell infiltration and activation. The TGFβ-blocking antibody significantly augmented the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy in the 4T1 mouse model.
Contributed by Shishir Pant
ABSTRACT: Despite the increasing interest in targeting stromal elements of the tumor microenvironment, we still face tremendous challenges in developing adequate therapeutics to modify the tumor stromal landscape. A major obstacle to this is our poor understanding of the phenotypic and functional heterogeneity of stromal cells in tumors. Herein, we perform an unbiased interrogation of tumor mesenchymal cells, delineating the co-existence of distinct subsets of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the microenvironment of murine carcinomas, each endowed with unique phenotypic features and functions. Furthermore, our study shows that neutralization of TGFβ in vivo leads to remodeling of CAF dynamics, greatly reducing the frequency and activity of the myofibroblast subset, while promoting the formation of a fibroblast population characterized by strong response to interferon and heightened immunomodulatory properties. These changes correlate with the development of productive anti-tumor immunity and greater efficacy of PD1 immunotherapy. Along with providing the scientific rationale for the evaluation of TGFβ and PD1 co-blockade in the clinical setting, this study also supports the concept of plasticity of the stromal cell landscape in tumors, laying the foundation for future investigations aimed at defining pathways and molecules to program CAF composition for cancer therapy.
Author Info: (1) Immuno-Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (2) Immuno-Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research
Author Info: (1) Immuno-Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (2) Immuno-Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (3) Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (4) Immuno-Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (5) Immuno-Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (6) Immuno-Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (7) Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (8) Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (9) Oncology Translational Research, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (10) Oncology Translational Research, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (11) Biotherapeutic and Analytical Technologies, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (12) Oncology Data Science, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (13) Oncology Data Science, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (14) Oncology Data Science, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (15) Oncology Translational Research, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (16) Oncology Translational Research, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (17) Oncology Data Science, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (18) Oncology Data Science, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (19) Oncology Translational Research, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (20) Immuno-Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (21) Immuno-Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (22) Oncology Translational Research, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (23) Oncology Data Science, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (24) Oncology Translational Research, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (25) Oncology Translational Research, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (26) Oncology Data Science, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (27) PKS Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (28) Immuno-Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (29) Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (30) Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (31) Oncology Data Science, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (32) Biotherapeutic and Analytical Technologies, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (33) Immuno-Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (34) Immuno-Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (35) Translational Clinical Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (36) Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (37) Immuno-Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. (38) Immuno-Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. viviana.cremasco@novartis.com.
