Antibodies against the immune checkpoint proteins PD-L1 and PD-1 have revolutionized cancer therapeutics resulting in durable remissions in many patients previous considered incurable. However, a majority of patients remain resistant and cancer types can vary greatly in their response rates. Thus, there is an urgent need to understand the variation in response in order to improve cancer care. This proposal brings together a team of investigators with complementary expertise in basic, translational, and clinical science who share the long-term goal of finding novel approaches to categorize and personalize cancer treatments. Recent results from the investigators suggest a major role for the packaging of immune checkpoint proteins in exosomes underlying the variation in responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors among patients. Specifically, varying amounts of PD-L1 can be trafficked to exosomes, which in turn can act at a distance to suppress anti-tumor T cell function, enabling tumor progression, even in models resistant to anti-PD-L1 treatments. The objective of this proposal is to build on these findings by focusing on the mechanism of exosomal PD-L1 packaging, action, and resistance to therapeutic antibodies. In particular, the proposal will test the overall hypothesis that tumor cells can selectively package PD-L1 into exosomes that suppress T cell priming at distal sights in a fashion that is distinct from the cell-cell interactions of PD-L1 and PD-1 normally seen in the tumor bed. The hypothesis is premised on extensive preliminary data using in vitro and in vivo models showing that the relative fraction of PD-L1 packaged in exosomes versus retained in cells varies between cell lines, that suppression of exosomal PD-L1 can result in long-term systemic anti-tumor immunity, and that exosomal PD-L1 is resistant to anti-PD-L1 antibodies. To test the overall hypothesis, the following aims are proposed: 1) Uncover mechanisms underlying the selective packaging of PD-L1 into exosomes, 2) Evaluate the mechanistic basis of exosomal PD-L1?s impact on systemic immunity, 3) Dissect how exosomal PD-L1 interacts with and regulates its target cells.
In aim 1, structure/function and proteomic approaches are proposed to identify the regulators of PD-L1 packaging into exosomes. Furthermore, associations between expression of these factors and resistance to therapy will be evaluated using primary patient samples.
In aim 2, mouse-based immunological approaches and patient samples will be used to determine where in the immune axis exosomal PD-L1 functions. Uncovered insights will then be used to develop a novel therapeutic approach to enhance the anti-tumor immune response.
In aim 3, microscopy and functional studies in in vitro models along with association studies with patient samples will be used to determine how exosomal PD-L1 interacts with its target cells potentially explaining its resistance to antibodies. The proposal is highly significant in that it is expected to provide new fundamental knowledge that can be used to identify and treat the large fraction of patients resistant to current immune therapies. While this proposal focuses on a subset of cancer models with a particular emphasis on prostate cancer, the paradigms uncovered are expected to be relevant across most if not all tumor types.
The proposed research is relevant to public health as it addresses the fundamental question of how tumor- derived PD-L1 communicates with target cells, suppresses anti-tumor immunity, and can avoid current immune checkpoint therapies. New knowledge gained through this application will advance the field of cancer care by providing new avenues of therapeutic manipulation of the anti-tumor immune response. Therefore, the research is relevant to NIH?s mission to foster fundamental creative discoveries that increase the nation's capacity to protect and improve human health.
