Abstract 2821: Gut commensal bacteria modulate functions of tumor-associated neutrophils in human colorectal cancer
Authors: Governa Valeria , Cremonesi Eleonora , Calabrese Diego , Mele Valentina , Trella Emanuele , Droeser Raoul A. , Bolli Martin , Eppenberger-Castori Serenella , Piscuoglio Salvatore , Ng Charlotte K. y. , Garzon Jesus Francisco Glaus , Borsig Lubor , Janssen Klaus-Peter , Terracciano Luigi M. , Spagnoli Giulio Cesare , Christoforidis Dimitri , Majno-Hurst Pietro Edoardo , Iezzi Giandomenica 
Published: August 2019

Tumor infiltration by immune cells critically impacts on clinical outcome of human colorectal cancer (CRC). While high densities of CD8+ T cells and T-helper type 1 cells are associated with prolonged patient survival, the role of tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) is debated.

CRC arise in an environment heavily populated by microrganisms. Upon CRC oncogenesis, gut commensal bacteria translocate into the submucosa where they directly interact with residing immune cells. Neutrophils represent a front-line arm of the immune system in the response to bacteria. However, little is known about their interaction with commensal bacteria within CRC tissues. We investigated the interplay between neutrophils and commensal bacterial species present within the CRC microenvironment.

Using an orthotopic CRC xenograft model, we found that commensal bacteria stimulate CRC cells to produce neutrophil recruiting chemokines. We then compared in vitro chemokine induction capacity of Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) and Bacteroides fragilis (Bf), two most abundant bacterial species of CRC microenvironment. Fninduced significantly higher levels of IL-8 by CRC cells than Bf, thus more effectively promoting neutrophil recruitment. Accordingly, in human CRC samples, abundance of Fn, but not Bf, significantly correlated with high infiltration by CD66b+ cells. Functional studies indicate that neutrophils cultured in the presence of Fn, but not Bf, lose their ability to enhance proliferation and cytokine release by CD8+ T cells undergoing antigenic stimulation. Moreover, neutrophils exposed to Fn, but not Bf, stimulate release of IL-6 by tumor-associated stromal cells, leading to enhanced tumor cell proliferation.

Our data cumulatively suggest that distinct bacterial components of the human gut flora might differentially modulate functions of CRC infiltrating neutrophils, thus ultimately influencing their prognostic significance.

Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting.

Citation Format: Valeria Governa, Eleonora Cremonesi, Diego Calabrese, Valentina Mele, Emanuele Trella, Raoul A. Droeser, Martin Bolli, Serenella Eppenberger-Castori, Salvatore Piscuoglio, Charlotte K. y. Ng, Jesus Francisco Glaus Garzon, Lubor Borsig, Klaus-Peter Janssen, Luigi M. Terracciano, Giulio Cesare Spagnoli, Dimitri Christoforidis, Pietro Edoardo Majno-Hurst, Giandomenica Iezzi. Gut commensal bacteria modulate functions of tumor-associated neutrophils in human colorectal cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2821.