Pharmacologic Tumor PDL1 Depletion with Cefepime or Ceftazidime Promotes DNA Damage and Sensitivity to DNA-Damaging Agents.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

The interaction between tumor surface-expressed PDL1 and immune cell PD1 for the evasion of antitumor immunity is well established and is targeted by FDA-approved anti-PDL1 and anti-PD1 antibodies. Nonetheless, recent studies highlight the immunopathogenicity of tumor-intrinsic PDL1 signals that can contribute to the resistance to targeted small molecules, cytotoxic chemotherapy, and αPD1 immunotherapy. As genetic PDL1 depletion is not currently clinically tractable, we screened FDA-approved drugs to identify those that significantly deplete tumor PDL1. Among the candidates, we identified the β-lactam cephalosporin antibiotic cefepime as a tumor PDL1-depleting drug (PDD) that increases tumor DNA damage and sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents in vitro in distinct aggressive mouse and human cancer lines, including glioblastoma multiforme, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, and melanoma. Cefepime reduced tumor PDL1 post-translationally through ubiquitination, improved DNA-damaging-agent treatment efficacy in vivo in immune-deficient and -proficient mice, activated immunogenic tumor STING signals, and phenocopied specific genetic PDL1 depletion effects. The β-lactam ring and its antibiotic properties did not appear contributory to PDL1 depletion or to these treatment effects, and the related cephalosporin ceftazidime produced similar effects. Our findings highlight the rapidly translated potential for PDDs to inhibit tumor-intrinsic PDL1 signals and improve DNA-damaging agents and immunotherapy efficacy.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Murray, C; Galvan, E; Ontiveros, C; Deng, Y; Bai, H; Padron, AS; Hinchee-Rodriguez, K; Garcia, MG; Kornepati, A; Conejo-Garcia, J; Curiel, TJ

Published Date

  • May 4, 2022

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 23 / 9

PubMed ID

  • 35563520

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC9099860

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1422-0067

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.3390/ijms23095129

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • Switzerland