Abstract B14: Natural killer immune response is promoted by the treatment of B-cell lymphoma cancer cells with membrane ionophores
Authors: Zerrouqi Abdessamad , Torun Anna , Miazek Nina , Pilch Zofia , Golab Jakub , Pyrzynska Beata 
Published: March 2020

Introduction: Over the last two decades, very compelling clinical and experimental evidences have accelerated the use of natural killer (NK) cells’ properties for the recognition and eradication of hematologic malignancies. NK cells mediate antitumor killing responses via antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). In order to accelerate and sustain NK antitumor immunity, antibodies targeting antigens expressed on the membrane surface of cancer cells are used as therapeutic interventions. Here, we investigated the antitumor benefit of the combination of the therapeutic anti-CD20 antibody, rituximab, with shortlisted membrane ionophores to overcome the resistance of B-cell lymphomas toward anti-CD20 targeted monoclonal antibodies.

Methods: Flow cytometry was used to quantify cell surface protein levels and the rate of tumor cell death. Serum and PBMCs of human healthy donors were used as source of complement and natural killer cells, respectively. ADCC, complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), and degranulation assays were used to assess the sensitivity of NHL cell lines and primary cancer cells upon treatment with ionophores plus rituximab. RNA-seq and qPCR were used to identify and confirm the deferentially expressed genes upon ionophores treatment. GSEA, an online resource of the Broad Institute (Boston, MA), was used to screen the differentially expressed genes and major signaling pathways.

Results: Our data show that the sublethal doses of these ionophores (&lt; 0.5uM) greatly increased surface CD20 (protein target for rituximab therapy) levels onB-cell lymphoma (Burkitt and DLBCL) cell lines. B-cell lymphoma cell death induced by rituximab, either mediated by complement or NK cell cytotoxicities, was significantly increased upon treatment with ionophores. These in vitro effects have been confirmed in xenograft model in SCID mice. While rituximab treatment alone slightly delayed tumor growth, the combination of rituximab with ionophores caused a dramatic decrease (up to 3x) of tumor size. The anticipated signaling pathways influencing NK cell activity are currently being interrogated; transcriptomic analysis combined with GSEA will allow to identify markedly altered pathways that are potentially closely involved in enhancing the sensitivity of rituximab-treated B-cell lymphoma cells.

Summary: The data indicate that ionophores are promising therapeutic agents that could strongly enhance CD20 expression on the surface of target tumor cells. When combined with therapeutic anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, impressive high NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity is demonstrated that potentially offsets the B lymphoma resistance to R-CHOP regimen. These results also support the clinical development of these molecules as adjuvant to existing cancer immunotherapies.

Support: National Science Centre (NCN, Poland), ID: 2016/23/B/NZ5/02622; Ministry of Science and Higher Education in Poland, ID: DI2014007344 and iONKO grant.

Citation Format: Abdessamad Zerrouqi, Anna Torun, Nina Miazek, Zofia Pilch, Jakub Golab, Beata Pyrzynska. Natural killer immune response is promoted by the treatment of B-cell lymphoma cancer cells with membrane ionophores [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2019 Nov 17-20; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2020;8(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B14.