Targeting tumor-associated macrophages with anti-CSF-1R antibody reveals a strategy for cancer therapy

Abstract

Macrophage infiltration has been identified as an independent poor prognostic factor in several cancer types. The major survival factor for these macrophages is macrophage colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1). We generated a monoclonal antibody (RG7155) that inhibits CSF-1 receptor (CSF-1R) activation. Invitro RG7155 treatment results in cell death of CSF-1-differentiated macrophages. In animal models, CSF-1R inhibition strongly reduces F4/80+ tumor-associated macrophages accompanied by an increase of the CD8+/CD4+ Tcell ratio. Administration of RG7155 to patients led to striking reductions of CSF-1R+CD163+ macrophages in tumor tissues, which translated into clinical objective responses in diffuse-type giant cell tumor (Dt-GCT) patients. © 2014 Elsevier Inc.