Abstract B053: Tumor-associated macrophages diminishes IL1RAP-targeting CAR-T cell therapy efficacy in Ewing sarcoma
Authors: Huang Yue Zhou (Joe) , Rouleu Melanie , Sorensen Poul 
Published: September 2024

Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is a pediatric malignancy of soft tissue and bone with a poor prognosis, especially in its metastatic stages. We have previously identified IL1RAP as a promising target for immunotherapies like chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy against EwS. However, CAR-T cells, despite their success in hematological cancers, often show limited efficacy against solid tumors. In orthotopic xenograft models of Ewing sarcoma (EwS) we have observed that CD11b+ CD206+ macrophages, known as tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), surround the primary tumor. Treatment with IL1RAP-targeting CAR-T cells specific to EwS results in T cells localizing with these macrophages and failing to infiltrate the primary tumor. This study aims to characterize the impact of TAMs on CAR-T cell efficacy in EwS. We hypothesized that TAMs, polarized by Ewing sarcoma cells, suppress IL1RAP CAR-T cell activity. To model these interactions, we co-cultured EwS cells, macrophages, and CAR-T cells, performing luciferin-based in vitro cytotoxicity assays. THP-1 monocytes were differentiated into macrophages and polarized into M1 or M2 states using cytokines (LPS + IFN-y, IL-4 + IL-13), or differentiated into TAMs by co-culture with EwS cell lines. In vitro cytotoxicity assays were conducted using luciferase-expressing EwS target cells, polarized THP-1 macrophages, and IL1RAP CAR-T effector cells, with luminescence indicating EwS cell survival. We found that M1 macrophages did not affect CAR-T cell targeting of EwS cells, whereas M2 macrophages and TAMs significantly decreased specific lysis (p &lt; 0.001). Conditioned media from polarized macrophages had no effect on CAR-T cell performance against EwS, suggesting that physical proximity or direct contact with TAMs is necessary to suppress CAR-T cell function. Western blot analysis of polarized THP-1 macrophages revealed that M2-polarized macrophages upregulated IL1RAP expression compared to M1 macrophages. Ongoing experiments aim to determine whether elevated IL1RAP expression in M2 macrophages redirects IL1RAP CAR-T cells away from EwS cells or if M2 macrophages mediate general suppression of CAR-T cell activity. Additionally, we are investigating whether THP-1-derived TAMs and primary macrophages also upregulate IL1RAP expression when polarized and how this affects syngeneic CAR-T cell performance. Our findings indicate that TAMs can influence the efficacy of IL1RAP-targeting CAR-T cells against EwS. Further investigation into the specific mechanisms responsible for this suppressive effect could enhance CAR-T therapy for Ewing sarcoma and potentially other solid tumors.

Citation Format: Yue Zhou (Joe) Huang, Melanie Rouleu, Poul Sorensen. Tumor-associated macrophages diminishes IL1RAP-targeting CAR-T cell therapy efficacy in Ewing sarcoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Advances in Pediatric Cancer Research; 2024 Sep 5-8; Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(17 Suppl):Abstract nr B053.