Abstract B046: Sensitizing the PDAC tumor microenvironment to immune checkpoint therapies: characterization of a PDAC 3D model to decipher immune infiltration
Authors: Bessede Thomas , Freixinos Clara , Barrat Jennifer , Garambois Véronique , Vie Nadia , Michaud Henri-Alexandre , Faget Julien , Bonnefoy Nathalie , Gongora Céline , Robert Bruno , Gros Laurent , Larbouret Christel 
Published: September 2024

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal solid tumor with an unfavorable prognosis, often resistant to conventional treatments due to its dense stroma rich in Cancer- Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs). Limited T cell infiltration and prevalence of immunosuppressive cells within the tumor hinder the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The objective of our project is to modify immune landscape of PDAC tumor microenvironment (TME) to induce ICIs sensitization. We thus develop novel therapeutic strategies combining an immunomodulatory cytokine Interleukine-15 (IL15), with conventional chemotherapies (Gemcitabine or Folfirinox). To accurately replicate the complex cancer-stroma interactions within the pancreatic tumor microenvironment, we constructed a three-dimensional in vitro heterospheroid model composed of xenograft-derived tumor cells from PDAC patients, both primary or immortalized CAFs, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors. Human 3D models were first set up and characterized by cytometry, imaging mass spectrometry and immunohistochemistry. We showed that, CAFs produce components of the extracellular matrix, promote tumor cell growth, improve resistance to chemotherapy and are able to down-regulate immune cell infiltration and modulate the nature of infiltrated immune cells. Spatial analysis of spheroids using imaging mass cytometry show that CAF influences the distribution of immune cells in our models. Interestingly, Interleukine 15 treatment prompted robust infiltration of PBMCs into heterospheroids. Immunophenotyping experiments revealed a substantial shift in the nature of immune infiltration, marked by a pronounced increase in CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, gDelta T cell and NK cell populations. When combined with Gemcitabine and IL15, immune effector cell infiltration is remarkably increased, resulting in antitumoral effects and control of tumor cell growth. Moreover, therapeutic combinations induce activation of infiltrated immune effector cells with an increase of activation, degranulation and cytotoxic markers, such as IFNγ, CD107a, and Granzyme B respectively. Thus, the heterotypic spheroids described in our study are a suitable in vitro model to both characterize the influence of CAF on therapeutic effects and the mechanisms that drives immune suppressive microenvironment. Moving forward, the next steps will consist to conduct in vivo experiments using a syngeneic PDAC orthotopic model to assess whether this combined therapeutic approach sensitize the PDAC microenvironment to anti-PD1 therapies.

Citation Format: Thomas Bessede, Clara Freixinos, Jennifer Barrat, Véronique Garambois, Nadia Vie, Henri-Alexandre Michaud, Julien Faget, Nathalie Bonnefoy, Céline Gongora, Bruno Robert, Laurent Gros, Christel Larbouret. Sensitizing the PDAC tumor microenvironment to immune checkpoint therapies: characterization of a PDAC 3D model to decipher immune infiltration [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Advances in Pancreatic Cancer Research; 2024 Sep 15-18; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(17 Suppl_2):Abstract nr B046.