A tumor-targeting nanomedicine carrying the p53 gene crosses the blood–brain barrier and enhances anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in mouse models of glioblastoma

Abstract

Despite its anticipated clinical potential, anti-PD-1 immunotherapy has only yielded poor outcomes in recent clinical trials for glioblastoma patients. Strategies combining anti-PD-1 antibody with other treatment modalities are being explored to alter the immunosuppressive microenvironment that appears to characterize these anti-PD-1-insensitive tumors. Here, we evaluated whether introducing wild-type p53 gene via a tumor-targeting nanomedicine (termed SGT-53) could provide immune stimulation and augment anti-PD-1 therapy in mouse syngeneic GL261 tumor models (either subcutaneous or intracranial). In both models, anti-PD-1 monotherapy had no demonstrable therapeutic effect. However, combining anti-PD-1 with our investigational nanomedicine SGT-53 was very effective in inhibiting tumor growth, inducing tumor cell apoptosis and increasing intratumoral T-cell infiltration. A significant survival benefit was observed in mice bearing intracranial glioblastoma receiving combination treatment. Importantly, SGT-53 upregulated PD-L1 expression both in vitro and in vivo. Transcriptome analysis revealed modulation of genes linked to either cancer progression or immune activation after combination treatment. Our data suggest that SGT-53 can boost antitumor immunity and sensitize glioblastoma to anti-PD-1 therapy by converting immunologically “cold” tumors into “hot” tumors. Combining SGT-53 with anti-PD-1 might benefit more patients from anti-PD-1 immunotherapy and our data support evaluation of this combination in patients with glioblastoma.