CXCL10-induced migration of adoptively transferred human natural killer cells toward solid tumors causes regression of tumor growth in vivo

Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2015 Feb;64(2):225-35. doi: 10.1007/s00262-014-1629-5. Epub 2014 Oct 26.

Abstract

Adoptive infusion of natural killer (NK) cells is being increasingly explored as a therapy in patients with cancer, although clinical responses are thus far limited to patients with hematological malignancies. Inadequate homing of infused NK cells to the tumor site represents a key factor that may explain the poor anti-tumor effect of NK cell therapy against solid tumors. One of the major players in the regulation of lymphocyte chemotaxis is the chemokine receptor chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 3 (CXCR3) which is expressed on activated NK cells and induces NK cell migration toward gradients of the chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand (CXCL9, 10 and 11). Here, we show that ex vivo expansion of human NK cells results in a tenfold increased expression of the CXCR3 receptor compared with resting NK cells (p = 0.04). Consequently, these NK cells displayed an improved migratory capacity toward solid tumors, which was dependent on tumor-derived CXCL10. In xenograft models, adoptively transferred NK cells showed increased migration toward CXCL10-transfected melanoma tumors compared with CXCL10-negative wild-type tumors, resulting in significantly reduced tumor burden and increased survival (median survival 41 vs. 32 days, p = 0.03). Furthermore, administration of interferon-gamma locally in the tumor stimulated the production of CXCL10 in subcutaneous melanoma tumors resulting in increased infiltration of adoptively transferred CXCR3-positive expanded NK cells. Our findings demonstrate the importance of CXCL10-induced chemoattraction in the anti-tumor response of adoptively transferred expanded NK cells against solid melanoma tumors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / administration & dosage
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement
  • Chemokine CXCL10 / immunology*
  • Chemokine CXCL10 / metabolism
  • Chemokines, CXC / immunology
  • Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / drug effects
  • Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive*
  • Interferon-gamma / administration & dosage
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interferon-gamma / pharmacology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / mortality
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Receptors, CXCR3 / metabolism
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Burden / drug effects
  • Tumor Burden / immunology
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Chemokine CXCL10
  • Chemokines, CXC
  • Receptors, CXCR3
  • Doxorubicin
  • Interferon-gamma