Cited by 407Cancer Immunotherapy and BiomarkersCell Adhesion Molecules ResearchT-cell and B-cell Immunology

Nuclear FAK Controls Chemokine Transcription, Tregs, and Evasion of Anti-tumor Immunity

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Serrels, Alan, Lund, Tom, Serrels, Bryan, Byron, Adam, McPherson, Rhoanne C., von Kriegsheim, Alexander, Gómez-Cuadrado, Laura, Canel, Marta +10 more·2015·Cell

Abstract

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) promotes anti-tumor immune evasion. Specifically, the kinase activity of nuclear-targeted FAK in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells drives exhaustion of CD8(+) T cells and recruitment of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the tumor microenvironment by regulating chemokine/cytokine and ligand-receptor networks, including via transcription of Ccl5, which is crucial. These changes inhibit antigen-primed cytotoxic CD8(+) T cell activity, permitting growth of FAK-expressing tumors. Mechanistically, nuclear FAK is associated with chromatin and exists in complex with transcription factors and their upstream regulators that control Ccl5 expression. Furthermore, FAK's immuno-modulatory nuclear activities may be specific to cancerous squamous epithelial cells, as normal keratinocytes do not have nuclear FAK. Finally, we show that a small-molecule FAK kinase inhibitor, VS-4718, which is currently in clinical development, also drives depletion of Tregs and promotes a CD8(+) T cell-mediated anti-tumor response. Therefore, FAK inhibitors may trigger immune-mediated tumor regression, providing previously unrecognized therapeutic opportunities.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.cell.2015.09.001

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  • FAK-related fibrosis can form a barrier in tumors that limits the CD8+ T cells infiltration in tumors, and FAK inhibition can ultimately promote the antitumor effects by decreasing the number of tumor-resident Tregs.

    “FAK-related fibrosis can form a barrier in tumors that limits the CD8+ T cells infiltration in tumors, and FAK inhibition can ultimately promote the antitumor effects by decreasing the number of tumor-resident Tregs.”
  • FAK inhibition may enhance KRAS (G12C) inhibition and immunotherapy.

    “Thus, FAK inhibition may enhance KRAS (G12C) inhibition and immunotherapy [125, 126].”

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Authors
Serrels, A., Lund, T., Serrels, B., Byron, A., McPherson, R. C., von Kriegsheim, A., Gómez-Cuadrado, L., Canel, M., Muir, M., Ring, J. E., Maniati, E., Sims, A. H., Pachter, J. A., Brunton, V. G., Gilbert, N., Anderton, S. M., Nibbs, R. J. B., & Frame, M. C.
Affiliations
  • Edinburgh Cancer Research (GB)
  • Centre for Inflammation Research (GB)
  • Verastem (United States) (US)
  • Queen Mary University of London (GB)
  • Institute of Genetics and Cancer (GB)
  • University of Glasgow (GB)
Corresponding author
  • Serrels, Alan
  • Frame, Margaret C.
Venue
Cell
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2015-09
Volume
163
Issue
1
Pages
160-173
ISSN
0092-8674 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2102498455
Cited by
407
References
62
Citations by year
2026: 29 · 2025: 33 · 2024: 42 · 2023: 39 · 2022: 47 · 2021: 52 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 1
FWCI
12.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam) (acceptedVersion)
  • Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Burgos (University of Burgos) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust (095831)
  • Verastem Oncology
  • Cancer Research UK (C157/A15703, 15703)
  • Science Foundation Ireland (13/SIRG/2174, 06/CE/B1129)
  • Medical Research Council (G1100084)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Immunology and Allergy › Cell Adhesion Molecules Research
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › T-cell and B-cell Immunology
Keywords
focal adhesion kinase, chemokine transcription, RANTES, regulatory T cells, CD8+ T cell exhaustion, tumor immune evasion, squamous cell carcinoma, tumor microenvironment, VS-4718, antitumor immunity, chromatin, keratinocytes
MeSH terms
Aminopyridines, Animals, Carcinoma, Squamous Cell, Disease Models, Animal, Humans, Mice, Nude, Skin Neoplasms, Transcription, Genetic, Keratinocytes, Chemokine CCL5, Tumor Escape, T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory, Mice, Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases

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