Abstract 2495: CCL3 predicts an exceptional response to TGFβ inhibition in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by sustaining a basal-like ecotype enriched in LIF-producing macrophages
Authors: Pietrobono Silvia , Bertolini Monica , De Vita Veronica , Scarlato Enza , Fazzini Federica , Sabbadini Fabio , Mangiameli Domenico , Quinzii Alberto , Casalino Simona , Melisi Davide 
Published: March 2024

The TGFβ receptor inhibitor galunisertib (GAL) exhibited promising efficacy in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in the randomized phase 2 H9H-MC-JBAJ study. However, the identification of predictive biomarkers remains of unique importance. We used a 279 multi-analyte panel and confirmed CCL3 as the most significant plasma protein for chemoresistance in patients receiving gemcitabine (GEM) [overall survival (mOS) (95%CI), high vs low, 3.6 (2.5-4.0) vs 10.1 (7.2-17.0) months, HR (95%CI)= 3.92 (2.14-7.20); p&lt;0.001]. GAL dramatically reverted this resistance and CCL3 was the most significant predictive marker for the combination of this agent plus GEM [mOS (95%CI), GAL + GEM vs. placebo + GEM, 9.0 (5.5-12.1) vs 3.6 (2.5-4.0) months, HR (95%CI)= 0.39 (0.23-0.68); p&lt;0.001]. We delved into the mechanisms behind this exceptional response in PDAC with this prognostically negative ecotype sustained by CCL3 in 6 different murine PDAC models. Mice bearing high-Ccl3 tumors had a significantly shorter mOS, a higher infiltration of M2-macrophages (TAMs), and a more mesenchymal/basal-like phenotype than did models with undetectable Ccl3.Ccl3 was stably expressed in DT4313 and PAN610, and silenced in RC416 cells. In co-culture models, DT4313Ccl3 and PAN610Ccl3 had a more mesenchymal phenotype and induced a M2 polarization of RAW264.7 murine TAMs than did controls. Mice bearing DT4313Ccl3 or PAN610Ccl3 tumors had a significantly shorter mOS, an higher infiltration of M2-polarized TAMs and a more mesenchymal/basal-like phenotype than controls. The expression of Tgfβ1 ligand and the phosphorylation of Smad2 were triggered only in TAMs if co-cultured with Ccl3-high RC416scr, DT4313Ccl3 or PAN610Ccl3 cells. This activation of Tgfβ pathway was blocked by maraviroc, a selective inhibitor of Ccl3-receptor Ccr5. In co-culture, GAL reverted the mesenchymal phenotype of PDAC cells and the M2 polarization of TAMs. By using an 111 different cytokine immunoassay, Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (Lif) was the most significantly factor overexpressed by TAMs if stimulated by Ccl3. GAL suppressed this Lif expression. In mice bearing DT4313Ccl3 tumors GEM was ineffective, whereas it prolonged mOS in those with DT4313NTC tumors. Conversely, GAL plus GEM doubled mOS duration vs. GEM, modulated M2- TAMs infiltration, the mesenchymal/basal-like phenotype and plasma Lif only in mice bearing DT4313Ccl3 tumors, but not in those with DT4313NTC controls. In summary, we demonstrated that tumor-derived Ccl3 activates an autocrine Tgfβ signaling in TAMs, triggering their M2-phenotype and secretion of Lif. This Tgfβ-Lif axis sustains paracrinally a mesenchymal/basal-like PDAC ecotype resistant to GEM. Inhibition of Tgfβ signaling modulates this poor prognosis ecotype, and explains the exceptional response to GAL in patients with high-CCL3 PDAC.

Citation Format: Silvia Pietrobono, Monica Bertolini, Veronica De Vita, Enza Scarlato, Federica Fazzini, Fabio Sabbadini, Domenico Mangiameli, Alberto Quinzii, Simona Casalino, Davide Melisi. CCL3 predicts an exceptional response to TGFβ inhibition in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by sustaining a basal-like ecotype enriched in LIF-producing macrophages [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2495.